Tehelka case: VP withdraws Tarun Tejpal’s name from Prasar Bharti panel

Earlier,following the controversy erupted into the allegations of sexual assault against Tarun Tejpal,the Goa government on Thursday ordered an inquiry into the case.

According to reports,Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said that the state police has been asked to conduct preliminary inquiry into the issue. “If the allegations are found to be true,we will proceed as per the law,” he was quoted as saying to reporters. According to reports,Tejpal may also be summoned by the Goa police.

This came even as Tehelka managing editor Shoma Chaudhury said that she needed more time to take a “correct decision” on the issue. When confronted by mediaperson,Chaudhury said that her stand must be respected as a fellow journalist and given time to ensure a “correct action”.

Meanwhile,in the wake of allegations against the magazine’s editor-in-chief,the National Commission for Women reportedly may take suo motu cognisance of the issue. NCW member Nirmala Samant reportedly said that the commission would like to talk to the victim as to know what exactly happened.

Earlier in the day,the woman journalist had expressed her disappointment over the response by Tehelka on the issue.

According to reports on NDTV,the woman journalist said: “Deeply disappointed by Tehelka’s response. The claim that I am ‘satisfied’ is false for the reasons cited in my most recent email. To claim that other journalists in Tehelka are satisfied is also false since my testimony has not been publicly circulated within Tehelka,only Tarun’s letter of ‘atonement’ has.”

Woman journalist’s remark came a day after Tehelka’s editory stepped down from the post over the allegations of sexual assault and intimidation against him.

Notably,Shoma Chaudhury,managing editor of Tehelka had told The Indian Express that the woman journalist had not filed a criminal complaint and that she,as well as other staffers,were “satisfied with the action taken”.

The journalist had complained to Chaudhury accusing Tejpal of sexually assaulting her following which he resigned from the post of Editor-in-chief for six months to “do the penance that lacerates” him.

Meanwhile,Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said police will take suo moto action in the ‘Tejpal sexual assault case.’

In her complaint,the journalist had alleged that Tejpal sexually assaulted her on two occasions during the ‘Think fest’ event organised by the magazine in Goa earlier this month.

The allegations have led to the outrage among the people of country including the women activists.