Police carry out raids to trace Tejpal

A Goa police team today raided the South Delhi residence of Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal, accused of sexual assault on a woman colleague, and several other places including of his relatives here but could not trace him.

Assisted by Crime branch of Delhi police, the Goa police team descended on the residence of Tejpal at the crack of dawn in Jangpura area of South Delhi and spent over 90 minutes.

Senior police officials said Tejpal's wife did not divulge Tejpal's whereabouts.

The police team had reached the journalist's residence at around 6:30 AM and spent around 90 minutes there.

After returning empty handed from Tejpal's residence, the police team raided several other places including homes of his relatives and friends. The police team conducted raids in Noida also.

The action by Goa police came after they rejected Tejpal's request for time till Saturday to appear before them for investigation in the case.

On Wednesday, Goa police had directed Tejpal to appear before it by 3 PM yesterday. The direction had come after the victim, who has alleged that she was sexually assaulted by him in a lift in a five-star hotel in Goa earlier this month, recorded her statement under Section 164 of CrPC before a magistrate in Panaji.

The controversy also saw resignation of Shoma Chaudhury as Managing Editor of Tehelka, who is being accused of attempting to cover up the matter.

Chaudhury sent her resignation yesterday as there was speculation that she may also be named in the FIR for certain alleged acts of commission and omission after the scandal became public.

Tejpal today got interim bail till 2.30 PM from the Sessions Court here which will pronounce its final order later in the afternoon.