\t in String variable

I read a string value form the database which has the value in th database as : 'CL01\tApplication\tGeneral\tPolicy Date'
When I put it in a string variable the value becomes : 'CL01\\tApplication\\tGeneral\\tPolicy Date'
I need to read the value from th database as is because that's the field from a pdf document along with the tabs.
Can anybody suggest how to preserve the field value without escaping it in the code.
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