Activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), linked to the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), holding posters of Tarun Tejpal and shout slogans as police try to stop them during a protest in New Delhi, yesterday.
Panaji/New Delhi: Tehelka founder and editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal, accused of sexually assaulting a junior woman colleague in a five-star hotel earlier this month, was booked for rape by Goa Police as the union home ministry swung into action and sought details of the incident. Tejpal promised “full cooperation” in the probe.
BJP leader Arun Jaitley demanded that Tejpal face a criminal trial. The First Information Report was filed suo motu by the Goa Police Crime Branch officials under Sections 354 and 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which deal, respectively, with criminal use of force on a woman and rape, a police official said in Panaji.
Tejpal, 50, was accused of sexually assaulting a junior colleague twice in a hotel elevator during a high profile conference organised by the weekly magazine in Goa earlier this month. “The Crime Branch is investigating the case. We are also in the process of sending a team to Delhi,” Goa Director General of Police (DGP) Kishen Kumar said.
In a statement issued yesterday in Delhi, Tejpal said “serious allegations” have been levelled against him “and unfortunately, as sometimes happens in life, the complete truth and the need to do the honourable thing can come into conflict”. “I offer my fullest cooperation to the police and all other authorities, and look to presenting all the facts of this incident to it,” Tejpal said, speaking of the matter for the first time since the allegations of sexual harassment were made public.
“I also urge the committee and the police to obtain, examine and release the CCTV footage so that the accurate version of events stand clearly revealed,” he said.
As pressure mounted on the magazine, known for its investigative brand of journalism, managing editor Shoma Chaudhary denied any cover-up of allegations or delay in taking action. Speaking to journalists, she said: “I am in no way in opposition to the journalist and I acted according to what she asked of me within three days. This is hardly any cover.”
“It’s a misconception that there was a delay. I received a formal complaint only on November 18, and took action as requested within three days. My response within those three days was to make sure all that she asked from me, and the institution, was addressed immediately,” she said.
“Whether consensual or not, it was a grave transgression. So institutionally, one is not disputing her version,” the managing editor told reporters outside the Tehelka office in south Delhi.
The organisation has formed a committee presided over by Urvashi Butalia, eminent feminist and publisher, to look into the matter. “There is no question of putting any pressure or defending anyone, there will be an investigation by the committee. My intent has always been to act correctly. It is indeed a difficult time for everyone of us,” Choudhury said.
IANS
