Vijay Jolly, BJP workers booked for vandalising Shoma Chaudhury's house

New Delhi: A case was registered here today against Delhi BJP leader Vijay Jolly and a group of party workers who allegedly heckled former Tehelka Managing Editor Shoma Chaudhury, and defaced the nameplate outside her Saket residence in the morning.

An FIR in this regard was registered at Saket police station under section 341 (Obstruction), 427 (Mischief), section 3 of the Prevention of Defacement of the Properties Act, 143 (Unlawful Assembly), 149 (part of unlawful assembly) against Jolly and others here this evening.

Also read - Shoma apologises for 'lapses' in sexual assault case

"We have registered an FIR in this case and we are investigating the matter. We are also providing security to Chaudhury. We have also received a reference from NCW and we will reply to it tomorrow," said a senior Delhi police official.

Earlier in the day, Chaudhury who had reached National Commission for Women (NCW) to record her statement about her and Tehelka's response in dealing with alleged sexual assault case against its editor Tarun Tejpal, filed a complaint with the Commission regarding her house being vandalised allegedly by some BJP workers led by Jolly in the morning.

NCW member in-charge of Goa Shamina Shafiq then asked Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi to register an FIR in this case and provide security to Chaudhury.

Also read - Security cover provided for Shoma

Speaking to reporters, Chaudhury said, "My home was attacked and defaced. It is very distressing. I am very upset about it. Then there are mistakes that must be discussed and I think there should be measured public discourse, which will be very useful one."

"I have absolutely no problem being questioned by anybody and definitely by my own fraternity, but I think what is problematic is the tone, because it creates this kind of volatile situations.

"I have complained to the NCW for what happened to me today. I have children, they were terrified. I don't think this (action) is proportionate. I have filed a complaint to the police," she said.

In the morning, a group of BJP workers led by Jolly reached Chaudhury's Saket residence to protest. The protesters not only painted the word 'accused' on Chaudhury's nameplate, some of them also went on to surround and jostle the journalist as she was leaving her house.

When police personnel tried to escort Chaudhury to her car, Jolly even tried to climb on to the vehicle. Following criticism, BJP distanced itself from the protesters with senior party leader Sushma Swaraj saying their act was "not civilised".

The BJP workers had protested outside the residence of Chaudhury, demanding her immediate arrest for allegedly trying to cover up sexual harassment complaint filed against the magazine's Editor Tarun Tejpal by a woman journalist. The protesters said she had failed to take corrective measures in the sexual assault case and demanded her immediate arrest.

Later in the night, police issued a notice to Delhi BJP leader Vijay Jolly under section 160 CrPC to appear at Saket police station in the morning in this case.

Next - Not shielding Tejpal: Kapil Sibal

Not shielding Tejpal: Sibal

New Delhi: Union law and justice minister Kapil Sibal on Thursday rejected BJP’s charge that he was shielding Tarun Tejpal and said the law must take its course in the sexual assault case against the Tehelka editor and if he is guilty, he should be punished.

“Whatever has happened, law must take its course. If a person is guilty, he must be punished. If he is not, he must not be punished,” Mr Sibal said.

However, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj lashed out at Mr Sibal and said that she did not name any specific person in her tweet on Wednesday.

The BJP leader maintained that she has tweeted responsibly pointing out three riders in her tweet — ‘Union Minister is shielding founder and patron of Tehelka.’ She said that it could be any Union minister.

Ms Swaraj also said “If Congress is asserting that BJP is trying to trap Tejpal over this case, then my stand is Congress is safeguarding him over the alleged sexual abuse.”

However, Mr Sibal quashed speculation that he is related to Tejpal and said “I have a nephew called Tarun Sibal. So are all the Taruns in this country related to me?”

The Union minister also said that he never applied for the shares and the sum of '5 lakh he “donated” was his way of “protecting the freedom of expressi-on” when Tejpal had come to him for help when his venture was facing “persecution” by the NDA government.

“He went to several personalities. He came to me also. I did not know him. That was a donation. He had asked me for support to start a newspaper.

I was protecting the freedom of expression. That is how I am a founder member of Tehelka. But I have never applied for shares,” Mr Sibal said.