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"Arranging female companionship for army officials was done in the heat of the story about unravelling the endemic corruption in our system," Tejpal said at a crowded meet-the-press programme, organised by the Mumbai Press Club.
"It was absolutely necessary to uncover the corruption. Money, women and booze seem to be regular demands of corrupt officers to arms dealers," Tejpal said.
Categorically denying that his portal was aligned to any particular political party or business house, he said "Our motive is only good reportage and bringing back strong, aggressive and combative journalism of the 1980s."
Tejpal came down heavily on the BJP-led NDA government for resorting to 'a reckless, slanderous campaign against the news portal'.
Instead of punishing those exposed, the investigators are being targeted and being painted as ISI agents, a whispering campaign floated about the portal being funded by underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and that there was a foreign hand behind the entire sting operation, Tejpal said.
"We are considering suing the government for defamation for its claim in an affidavit that the Tehelka expose was a major conspiracy to unsettle the stock markets," he added.
Tejpal said he was not worried whether anyone exposed during the sting operation is punished or indicted but at least a serious dialogue should be initiated about ensuring transparency in the country's arms procurement system and funding of political parties.
"If nobody is punished for the fictitious arms deal, it will be a travesty of our democracy," he lamented.
Though the government was 'stonewalling the story and victimising the portal', Tejpal said the 'response of our army establishment is encouraging as it has initiated the process to clean up the system'.
Tejpal, who had apologised for providing female companions to army officers, said people from whom he has received 'staggering support', were asking him why he had to feel sorry.
"The mood of the common man is that the corrupt should be exposed by whatever means," he said. "The ethical boundaries have shifted to accommodate sting journalism," he added.
He, however, stated that 'ways to circumvent the situation (use of call girls during sting operation) should have been thought of'.
Tejpal said he had no ulterior motive in the expose 'as the footage was neither suppressed nor used as leverage. We handed over the tapes to the army as well as the Venkataswami Commission'.
Tehelka would bring out four or five other major stories next year and those would dispel any misgivings about the portal targeting any particular political party, he said.
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