Complaint to police over Tehelka journalist's name leak

Hasiba Amin, president of the Goa unit of the NSUI, has submitted a complaint to police saying activist Madhu Kishwar leaked the name of the woman journalist who accused Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal of sexual assault.

National Students Union of India (NSUI) leader Amin, however, said police were not interested in registering her complaint or taking action against the activist.

"I wish to lodge a complaint against activist Madhu Kishwar for revealing the name of the victim in the Tarun Tejpal case of sexual assault," Amin wrote in her complaint submitted to the Crime Branch Nov 24.

The complainant said the comment by Kishwar was made on social media website Twitter Nov 22.

Amin has demanded action against Kishwar under Section 228A of the Indian Penal Code which advocates a fine and imprisonment which may extend to two years.

"This woman, who has set such a strong example for us women by having the guts to come out in the open after having been outraged, must be respected enough to keep her name secret," Amin said.

She, however, said police were shuttling her around.

"They (police) are not registering my complaint," Amin told the media.

"It is pathetic that someone would do such a thing, particularly a well educated woman. It would be even worse on our part if we let her get away with it," Amin said, accusing Kishwar of slander.

Responding to the accusation that the chief minister's office was taking "undue interest" in the case, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said police have been instructed to immediately register every case related to women-related crimes.

Goa Police has often been accused of non-registration of crimes even in cases of sexual assault in the past.

In a rare departure, however, the same police force took suo moto cognizance of media reports which quoted the woman journalist accusing Tejpal of sexual assault at a Goa resort and filed a first information report against the editor-in-chief earlier this month.