NGO confederation revokes award given to Tejpal

An award given to Tehelka magazine founder and editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal, who has been accused of sexually assaulting a junior colleague, for his contribution to society has been revoked, a group of NGOs Monday said.

A statement from iCONGO (a confederation of NGOs), said they have revoked the 'Karmaveer Puraskaar' given to Tejpal.

"Following the shocking and inhuman sexual misconduct by Tarun Tejpal, mentor of Tehelka Magazine, on a junior staffer of his magazine, the organizers of the 'iCONGO Karmaveer Puraskaar' have revoked the award," the statement said.

The award was conferred on Tejpal in 2009-10.

"The way that Tejpal repeatedly assaulted his young colleague goes against the values of the award, which Dr. Verghese Kurien, the first recipient of the Karmaveer Puraskaar Lifetime Achievement Award, described as the award that had the most special place in his heart," the statement said.

Goa Police have registered an FIR against Tejpal for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman colleague in a Panaji hotel early this month when the Tehelka group was holding its annual ThinkFest.