Justifying his decision, the PM offered this simplistic explanation: "There is no case against Fernandes. The commission has found no evidence against him." By stating this, the PM seemed to have pre-judged the commission's findings. Significantly, the advance reprieve for Fernandes came close on the heels of a rebuff from the commission—a ruling that the Tehelka tapes were not doctored, as alleged by Fernandes. Cabinet sources say the PM took President K.R. Narayanan into confidence and consulted legal experts before he made his move.