I need time to compose myself: Tehelka case victim

Amidst the intense media glare generated over the Tehelka row, the young victim has reached out to the National Commission for Women (NCW) requesting some time to compose herself before she decides to talk to them. It was all Shoma’s decision, say staff

Amidst the intense media glare generated over charges of Tehelka founding editor Tarun Tejpal’s sexual assault on a junior colleague, the young victim has reached out to the National Commission for Women (NCW) requesting some time to compose herself before she decides to talk to them.

“I have constantly been in touch with the victim to check how she is doing. Last night (Saturday) she told me she needed some time to compose herself and then will get back to us,” Shamina Shafiq, NCW member in-charge of Goa, told HT.

Shafiq said that the NCW is presently trying to provide the victim emotional and moral support. “She is going through a traumatic phase. She needs time to make up her mind and we respect that,” added the NCW member.

Read: Tehelka case: THiNK delegate felt something was wrong

The girl, Shafiq said, has also told her that as of now she does not feel the need of seeking police protection. “She said she will inform us the moment she feels threatened,” she said.

Sources close to the victim said that in the formal complaint that she lodged with Tehelka managing editor Shoma Chaudhury, she did not mention criminal action as she feared that it would result in “mud-slinging”. “She was aware that as soon as the case takes a legal turn it will be difficult to stop the mud-slinging and character assassination that would follow,” a victim’s friend said.