New Delhi/Panaji: The law finally caught up with elusive Tehelka editor in-chief Tarun Tejpal after Goa district and sessions court judge Anuja Prabhudesai rejected his anticipatory bail petition on Saturday evening.
Tejpal was arrested after the petition was dismissed. The Goa police is now set to begin his custodial interrogation.
The high-profile editor of the news magazine Tehelka has been accused of sexually assaulting a female colleague in a hotel elevator in Goa during the Tehelka organised Think Festival early this month.
Opposing the bail plea, the Goa police sought 14 days' custody of the rape accused. The victim, in a hard-hitting statement issued on Friday, had said: “What Tejpal did to me falls within the legal definition of rape.“
The fate of the accused “was more or less sealed“ following the victim's statement, some legal experts felt. The Goa police had on November 22 lodged an FIR against Tejpal under IPC Sections 376 (rape), 376 (2)(K) (rape by a person of a woman in his custody taking advantage of his official position) and 354 (outraging modesty). Conviction under IPC Sec. 376 entails a maximum of a life term in prison. The order on the bail pea came after nearly 48 hours of arguments by the defence and prosecu tion. The order, which was expected around 4.30 pm on Saturday, was eventually delivered at around 8 pm.
While Tejpal's family waited in the courtroom, the accused presented himself at the Goa crime branch office in the early evening.
While Tejpal's battery of lawyers tried to portray the sexual assault case as a “political conspiracy“ and described the victim “an agent of political forces“, the prosecution pointed out that the “accused has been changing colours like a chameleon through different statements while the victim has been consistent in her statements“.
The public prosecutor also pointed out that CCTV footage from the Goa hotel where the incident occurred early this month gives enough hints towards confirming the allegation of rape. The prosecution argued that Tejpal has in the past tried to influence the family of the complainant and referred to an FIR filed in Delhi.
“That the accused is interfering in the investigation is well corroborated by his past conduct,“ the prosecution said.
In the morning hearing, defence lawyer Geeta Luthra said Tejpal was ready to stay in Goa as long as the investigating agency needed him.
Next: Tejpal’s offer has no weight
Tejpal’s offer has no weight
New Delhi/Panaji: Tehelka founder Tarun Tejpal, who has been taken into custody by the Goa police over allegations of sexually harassing a woman employee, is ready to surrender his passport and asserted that the was no need to arrest him.
Defence lawyer Geeta Luthra said, “He is ready to surrender all documents, including his passport, and his arrest is not necessary,” making a case for the accused.
She gave a commitment to the court that Tejpal would also not visit Mumbai, where the victim currently resides.
“There should not be any fear that he (Tejpal) will tamper with witnesses or evidence,” she said while ruling out that he would flee abroad.
She claimed that the allegation of rape was false and could bring distress to the accused and cause equal damage to him as to the complainant. She said as the rape law has become more stringent, so it is all the more required for the accused to defend himself for which “his liberty may be preserved”.
When Tejpal came to the court, a protester tried to throw a black cloth at him but the person was immediately taken into custody by the police. There was a massive police presence at the court and crime branch office as journalists from across the country converged to cover the events.
The incident of alleged rape has resulted in a series of resignations from Tehelka. On Thursday, being accused of trying to conceal evidence, the magazine’s managing editor Shoma Chaudhury, also resigned. The rape accused had virtually vanished after the controversy erupted. Only on Friday did Tejpal surfaced with characteristic swagger at Delhi airport.
