Rape case filed against Tarun Tejpal

Panaji: Goa Police on Friday filed a case of rape and outraging of modesty against Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal, who has been accused by a woman journalist colleague of sexual assault during an event here about 10 days ago.

"An FIR has been filed for rape and outraging modesty (against Tejpal). This is one part of the process of investigation and law will take its course," DGP Kishan Kumar said after the Goa Police filed an FIR in the case.

The charges relate to section 376 (rape) and 344 (outraging modesty) of IPC, he said. Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said police have complete authority to investigate the sexual assault case against Tejpal and they should not worry about the stature of the person involved.

Sources reveal that the Goa police will leave soon for Delhi to arrest the Tehelka editor.

"I have given complete authority to the police to investigate the case. I have told them don't worry whether the person is low profile or high profile. Stature does not count. What counts is the crime. You go by what is correct in law," the Chief Minister told the police.

Asked about Tehelka's position that they would not cooperate in the probe until the victim lodges a complaint, Parrikar said, "I don't think that is the legal position. Police will take appropriate action."

He said under a Supreme Court judgement police have a duty to file an FIR in accordance with law in cognisable offences.

The DGP said the crime branch could send a team of officials to Delhi for further investigation. Parrikar had on Thursday ordered a preliminary inquiry into the allegations by the girl that she was sexually abused by Tejpal during an event in Goa.

The alleged incident happened in a lift in a five star hotel in Goa about 10 days ago. DIG O P Mishra said the CCTV footage was received from the hotel last evening and was preserved.

The details of the incident can only be known after examining the footage, he said. Police have already written to the Tehelka management, asking for the documents including email of the victim and the statement by Tejpal.

Next: Tejpal offers fullest cooperation to police

Tejpal offers fullest cooperation to police

New Delhi: Breaking his silence in the sexual assault case, Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal on Friday offered to extend the "fullest cooperation" to the police and all other authorities and expressed readiness to present all the facts of this incident to them.

In a statement issued soon after a case was filed against him in Goa, Tejpal said he had "tried to do what was honorably demanded of me" and issued an apology for the "alleged misconduct" as demanded by the victim.

"There have been serious allegations cast on me in this last week, and unfortunately as sometimes happens in life, the complete truth and the need to do the honorable thing can come into conflict," he said.

Tejpal said that in this case, "this anguish was accentuated by the fact that very many intimate people, professional and personal, were involved".

"I offer my fullest cooperation to the police and all other authorities, and look to presenting all the facts of this incident to it," the founder-Editor of Tehelka said.

"I also urge the committee and the police to obtain, examine and release the CCTV footage so that the accurate version of events stands clearly revealed," he added.

Narrating details of the events that occurred after the incident came to light, Tejpal said, "For four days, as demanded by Shoma Chaudhury, the Managing Editor (of Tehelka), and the recipient of the complaint, I have tried to do what was honorably demanded of me. On Tuesday, I issued an apology for the alleged misconduct, as desired by the journalist through Shoma Chaudhury. On Wednesday, I stepped down from the editorship of Tehelka and removed myself from the office premises. On Thursday, I learnt of the formation of the complaints committee."

Tejpal has been under severe attack for the alleged incident with demands for action against him under the law.