Tejpal creates tehelka, Goa begins sex assault probe

The Goa government on Thursday ordered a preliminary probe into allegations of sexual assault levelled by a young woman journalist against Tehelka founder-editor Tarun Tejpal, amid all-round condemnation of the incident and Tejpal’s decision to step down for six months as “atonement” for his “misconduct”.

The Goa government on Thursday ordered a preliminary probe into allegations of sexual assault levelled by a young woman journalist against Tehelka founder-editor Tarun Tejpal, amid all-round condemnation of the incident and Tejpal’s decision to step down for six months as “atonement” for his “misconduct”.

The National Commission for Women asked the woman to immediately register a formal complaint with the police. Women’s groups and the Editors Guild of India demanded strict action, saying personal atonement and recusal was not enough.

The BJP, citing the victim’s email to the weekly magazine’s managing editor Shoma Chaudhury, said it was a clear case of rape. Senior party leader Arun Jaitley also questioned the silence of top Congress leaders on the issue.

The incident took place during a literary festival in Goa organised by Tehelka earlier this month. Following media reports, chief minister Manohar Parrikar met the police brass in Panaji and later told reporters, “It has been found that there is substance in the complaint, in what the girl has said. Probably, the incident took place in the lift.” The Goa Police plan to ask Tehelka to provide the victim’s email.