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Already under attack for resorting to "unethical" means in its arms deal expose, news portal tehelka.com on Saturday apologised for a story alleging that an Assam minister had paid Rs 1.5 million to Sanghamitra Bharali to claim that former Assam chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta had married her.
"It has come to our notice that the report was written on the basis of allegations made by Mahanta's supporters. The allegations could not be substantiated through subsequent investigations," a statement posted on the site said.
In the story Assam sex scandal: genuine stinker or political vendetta? on August 18, the Web site alleged that the state's Public Works Department Minister Sarat Barkatoki had paid Bharali Rs 1.5 million to level the sensational charge against the Asom Gana Parishad chief.
"The item escaped editorial review and some discrepancies in the unedited version crept into the final copy as well."
"We regret any inconvenience caused to anyone by this editorial mishap," the statement said.
PTI
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