HC rejects Tejpal's plea for interim protection from arrest

Tejpal says the story of complainant needed to be taken with a 'pinch of salt'

Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal's plea for four-week interim protection against his arrest in the woman journalist sexual assault case was today rejected by the Delhi High Court, which reserved its order on his anticipatory bail petition.

Justice Sunita Gupta will pronounce the order on November 29 on the anticipatory bail plea of Tejpal which was strongly opposed by the Goa police.

While Tejpal said the victim's version has to be taken with a "pinch of salt", Goa police said, "There is no question of consent. This incident happened to the hapless victim."

"This offence shows the depravity of highest order by a man who is having control over the victim," senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Goa Police, said.

Tejpal said the story of complainant needed to be taken with a "pinch of salt" and there are embellishments in the FIR.

"I am a man enough to own up my mistakes," senior advocate K T S Tulsi, appearing for Tejpal, said.

Besides anticipatory bail, Tejpal had also sought interim protection against arrest for a period of four weeks.

During the hearing, Tulsi orally submitted that the plea for anticipatory bail be treated as a protection from arrest for four weeks.

He said he was seeking temporary protection from arrest till he reaches the competent court.

He argued that the police in order to harass and humiliate Tejpal has neither filed a status report nor told him the status of CCTV footage.

"Let them give CCTV footage to the court. Truth must not be obfuscated to serve political purposes and that is not the role of the police," the counsel said.

"Registration of FIR under section 376 of IPC is a complete abuse of their power by police at the behest of political masters," he said.

The Goa police has registered the FIR against Tejpal for allegedly sexually assaulting his junior on November 7 and 8 at a five-star hotel in Panaji.

The alleged incident happened in the hotel lift. The victim yesterday recorded her statement before the Goa police in Mumbai.