Who was convicted in the FBI sting operation which ideotaped politicians accepting bribes from a fraudulent Arabian company in return for various political favors?
Abscam Abscam—sometimes written ABSCAM—was a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) sting operation that took place in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The two-year investigation was directed from the FBI's office in Hauppauge, New York, and was under the supervision of Assistant Director Neil J. Welch, who headed the bureau's New York division, and Thomas P. Puccio, head of the Justice Department's Organized Crime Strike Force for the Eastern District of New York. The operation initially targeted trafficking in stolen property and corruption of prestigious businessmen, but was later converted to a public corruption investigation. The FBI, aided by the Justice Department and a convicted con-man, videotaped politicians accepting bribes from a fraudulent Arabian company in return for various political favors.
Operation West End Operation West End was the first sting operation done by Tehelka in 2001, the Indian news magazine known for its investigative journalism. It was done in order to make the murky defense deals public. The special correspondents of the magazine filmed several corrupt defense officials and politicians of ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government including Bhartiya Janta Party then President Late Bangaru Laxman. The operation took seven and a half months to complete, which later shook the country and adversely damaged the image of India in the International arena. The nightmarish fact is that a fictitious arms company successfully bought 34 individuals in high places including key politicians of ruling government. It is a known fact that corruption is rampant among politicians but the operation in 2001 blew the lid over sorry state of the nation, which was ruled by Bhartiya Janta Party and its allies, resulting in loss of faith by Indian people.