Tehelka sexual assault: Goa CM directs police to go after culprit with full force

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday said that he has directed the state police not to succumb to any external pressure in connection with the sexual assault case involving editor of Tehelka Tarun Tejpal, and also asked the police to go after the culprit with full force.

"It is enough to file an FIR with what is telecasted on TV. Police will investigate and they will have enough evidence for prosecution. I will never interfere in the investigation. I have only directed the police not to succumb to any pressure. A crime is a crime; go after the culprit. One thing is sure - Tejpal is the culprit and the girl is the victim,' he told media here today.

He further said that Tehelka's Managing Editor Shoma Chaudhury was bound to reveal all the information she had to the police immediately.

"Any information of crime, the person who is in possession of such information is bound to reveal it to the police. It is the law of the country," he added.

Earlier in the day, the Goa Police filed a case against the editor-in-chief of Tehelka magazine, Tarun Tejpal, for sexually assaulting a journalist working for the magazine.

Shoma Chaudhury had said that an internal committee has been set up in the office to probe the sexual harassment charge against Tejpal.

"I am setting up the committee. The committee will look into the matter. The truth is, the moment I got this complaint, I have acted absolutely driven by my need to act in the interest of the aggrieved journalist," said Chaudhury.

"I confronted Tarun angrily, but he told me a different version. It was also decided that Tarun would step down, as even if it was consensual, it was a transgression of his role," she added.

She further revealed that the aggrieved woman journalist has received an unconditional apology from Tarun Tejpal and the organisation on Tuesday.

"She told me that she is satisfied and did not feel further need for vengeance. It is through the television I got to know that she is disappointed with my actions. Now, that she is disappointed with my response, I have set up a committee," she said.

Tejpal had on Wednesday, sent a letter to Chaudhary, saying that he was stepping aside from his job for six months, and was squarely to be blamed for the sexual misconduct incident.

He further said that it was a bad lapse of judgment on his part, and that he had completely misread the situation.

He said that he has apologised unconditionally to the concerned journalist, but felt that he needed to atone for his misconduct further.

Tejpal, who is a founder member of the Tehelka magazine, said that he was stepping aside as an act of penance.