Tehelka case: Tarun Tejpal evades arrest as Goa police reach his residence

New Delhi/Panaji: A 7-member team of Goa Police reached Tarun Tejpal's Delhi residence early on Tuesday but found him missing. TV channels reported that the Tehelka Editor's wife refused to tell the police where he is.

Sources said Tejpal's family is not cooperating with the police. The cops are likely to question relatives and people who are close to Tejpal. Goa police suspect that he could be at his Himachal Pradesh residence.

Crime Branch personnel of Delhi Police were also at Tejpal's residence.

Tightening the screws, Goa police on Thursday moved a court for issue of non-bailable arrest warrant against Tejpal, who is accused of sexual assault against a woman journalist colleague, after he failed to appear before the crime branch.

Some media channels have, however, reported that a non-bailable warrant has already been issued against the Tehelka editor.

Tejpal, whose request for extension of time till Saturday for appearance before the Investigating Officer (IO) was rejected on Thursday, has now told Goa police that he will appear before them tomorrow in the investigations, his lawyer Sandeep Kapur, said in Delhi in the evening.

Also read - Tejpal violated my trust, body: Victim

On a day of dramatic developments when earlier reports spoke of Tejpal producing himself before the Goa police by the 3 PM deadline, he changed strategy and sought extension of time.

And in the Delhi High Court he sought withdrawal of his petition seeking anticipatory bail saying he would move the appropriate court for appropriate remedy.

The dice was loaded against the founding Editor of the magazine when two hours after the 3 PM deadline passed and he failed to appear before the police, DIG O. P. Mishra said the IO has not accepted his request for extension "in view of the seriousness of the crime and is further proceeding in this case as per law empowered."

Asked whether securing a non-bailable warrant (NBW) was an option before the police, he said, "these are logical steps that we are required to follow. I cannot divulge to you each and every step of investigation."

When pressed further whether arrest was being thought of, he shot back, "there should be no doubt that the next logical steps is that. The IO is proceeding as per logical and legal protocol."

Police sources said the crime branch moved the Sessions court for issue of an NBW which Tejpal could be arrested. The court is expected to give its order tomorrow morning.