Tehelka case: Tejpal to appear before judicial magistrate today

Tehelka founder Tarun Tejpal, who was arrested in connection with allegations of sexually assaulting a junior colleague, will be produced before the judicial magistrate here today.

Goa police on Saturday night arrested Tejpal on charges of rape and sexual assault after a local court rejected his plea for anticipatory bail.

"Tarun Tejpal is already in the Crime Branch. We have cooperated 100 percent. I want to emphasis one thing, the trial will proceed on its own. We had to join the investigation, and we have joined it," Tejpal's lawyer, Geeta Luthra told media here yesterday.

Tejpal on Saturday confirmed that he has joined an investigation started by Goa Police in connection with the sexual assault case filed against him.

Speaking to media outside the Crime Branch headquarters of Goa Police in the Dona Paula area of Panaji, Tejpal said: "From the very beginning, I had said that we would cooperate in the investigation with the police. And because of that, I reached here after being issued a summons by the police."

On Friday, a Sessions Court here gave him interim bail, after the former decided to extend the hearing of his case till 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Tejpal had landed in Panaji, and as expected, was escorted by law enforcement officials to the court in connection with a sexual harassment case lodged against him.

Goa Police had earlier sought custodial interrogation of Tejpal, as they believed he was trying to avoid them and possible arrest in connection with the case.

Tejpal's lawyers had moved the court for bail after a joint team of Goa and Delhi police went to his residence in Delhi to arrest him but did not find him there. Later they carried out searches at various other places, including that of his relatives.

Tejpal has been summoned in the wake of the recording of the statement made by the victim, a former woman journalist of Tehelka, before a Goa court.

She was allegedly sexually assaulted in a lift in a five-star hotel in Goa earlier this month.

Tejpal has filed a petition before the high court alleging that there was conspiracy behind the allegations of sexual assault, that the woman journalist was lying, and described the incident as a 'light hearted banter'.

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 section 376 of IPC entails a maximum of life term in jail.

Goa Police was instructed by the state government to investigate her allegations, contained in the email by her to Chaudhury. That email was leaked to the press. The FIR against Tejpal lists rape by a person in a position of authority over the woman, an offence that carries a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison.