Saturday, 30 November 2013

Tarun Tejpal arrested for sexually assaulting woman colleague

NEW DELHI/PANAJI: Beleaguered Tehelka's founder-editor Tarun Tejpal has been taken into custody by Goa Police after his bail plea was rejected by a Goa sessions court.

The court order has just been served on the crime branch. Tejpal was at the crime branch office at Dona Paula. He was joined in by his wife and daughter before he is put under arrest formally. He will be taken for a medical check-up as per procedure.


On the request of Tejpal's counsel, the court granted permission for Tejpal to get food from outside and wear his own personal clothes during custody. His lawyer has also been allowed to meet Tejpal in the cell.

Earlier in the evening, the sessions judge Anuja Prabhudesai pronounced the order rejecting Tejpal's anticipatory bail plea in a packed court room after a three hours delay. Scorching rumours that he may attend the court, Tejpal chose to go directly to the crime branch at Dona Paula, on the outskirts of the city, at around 4.30pm ahead of the verdict.


The Manohar Parrikar government took suo motu cognizance of the case on November 21. The Goa Police then filed a FIR against him based on media reports and also on the complaint filed by the victim with the news magazine's managing editor Shoma Chaudhury.


The case was registered under section 354, 376 and 36 (2) (k) of IPC. The alleged incident occurred at a starred resort in Bambolim, 5km from here, during the ThinkFest between November 7-8, 2013.


Tejpal had moved for anticipatory bail Friday morning soon after the non-bailable warrant was issued against him by a Goa court. Though the Goa Police had gone to arrest him in Delhi, they couldn't do so as the court had granted him relief till 2.30pm Friday. Offering to cooperate with the police, he took a flight to Goa with his daughter and lawyers.


The sessions court heard the arguments of Tejpal's counsel Geeta Luthra on Friday evening and Saturday morning after which public prosecutor Saresh Lotlikar made his submissions that Tehelka founder editor was required for custodial interrogation.


In the first half on Saturday, Tejpal had attended the court hearing with his counsel pointing out that he has joined the investigation. Tejpal had also visited the crime branch office at Dona Paula in what was seen as a move to show that he was fully cooperating with the police.






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