Named Accused in Sexual Harassment Case

HARASSMENT// Tehelka founder-cum-editor Tarun Tejpal was arrested for sexual assault on his junior colleague (who resigned following the incident) in November, in Goa, sending shock waves across the country. On November 30, Tejpal was interrogated by Goa police crime branch at their office in Dona Paula. The interrogation lasted five hours after which he was taken to Panaji police station lockup.

Earlier, Tejpal was remanded to police custody for six days and was later taken for a medical examination later. Tejpal was interrogated by investigating officer PI Sunita Sawant. Police began interrogating, seeking to corroborate the sequence of events which the victim had stated in her complaint.

Police have seized Tejpal’s cellphone so as to secure the conversation between him and victim. During the hearing on the remand, Goa police had informed the court that Tejpal’s interrogation was required to bring on record the emails exchanged between him and the girl. The survivor had earlier gone public stating that her former boss had sent her incriminating emails and sms-es pressurinsing her to keep the incident under wraps.

In December, Goa police told the court that Tejpal must have sent the email either from his personal cellphone, laptop, office computer and friend's computer or from other sources which need to be seized. Goa police also said a police team will be sent to seize the items.

Police had sought Tejpal’s custody for 14 days. Tejpal’s lawyer Geetha Luthra argued in court that 14 days police custody was not justified.