Turun Tejpal nomination to Prasar Bharti Board cancelled after sexual harassment charges

Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal's name has been withdrawn from the membership of Prasar Bharti Board following allegations of sexual assault by him on his junior colleague.

According to reports, Tejpal was selected as a member of the Prasar Bharti Board on Tuesday by a committee headed by Vice President Mohammed Hamid Ansari.

However, soon after the incident came to light on Wednesday, Ansari immediately asked the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to cancel it, reports added.

Tejpal, on Wednesday, sent a letter to Tehelka's Managing Editor Shoma Chaudhury, 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.