Rupert, James Murdoch to give evidence for first time in NOTW phone-hacking scandal

London, Apr 23 (ANI): Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch will be among various newspaper owners and news bosses who would give evidence to the Leveson Inquiry into media practices and ethics this week.

The inquiry, which would focus on the relationship between newspapers and politicians, will hear evidence from Murdoch on Wednesday, a day after his son James.

Today, Aidan Barclay, the chairman of Telegraph Media Group, and Evgeny Lebdev, owner of the Independent and London Evening Standard, are to appear, The BBC reports.

The inquiry that was launched in the wake of revelations about the illegal practice of phone hacking at the now-defunct tabloid News of the World (NOTW), is resuming at the Royal Courts of Justice in central London after a break of almost three weeks.

It has already looked at the relationship between the press and the public, including phone hacking and other potentially illegal behaviour, and the relationships between the press and police.

The coming week will be dominated by the Murdochs and their companies, who will give evidence to the inquiry for the first time.

On Tuesday, James Murdoch is likely to be asked why it took him so long to appreciate the full extent of phone hacking at NOTW.

According to the report, Rupert Murdoch will be questioned about practices at his British newspapers in the light of the phone-hacking scandal, which led to the closure of the NoW.

He is likely to be asked whether he exerted undue influence over British public life through his papers and his regular meetings with top politicians. (ANI)