Tejpal in 6-day police custody

Monday, 02/12/2013

http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=87961&boxid=62158&uid=&dat=2013-12-02

Panaji : The gruelling interrogation of Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal has begun after he was remanded by a Goa court to six days in police custody over charges of rape. Tejpal’s arrest late on Saturday and his remand Sunday morning followed two weeks of drama after the woman colleague accused the veteran journalist of sexually molesting her in a Goa resort twice in November.

Once they got him in their custody, Crime Branch officials took the Tehelka founder to their headquarters in Dona Paula and began questioning him on the sexual assault allegedly committed by him on his colleague in a hotel lift twice early last month.

The questioning was over around 8 pm and he was taken back to lock up, police sources said. The interrogation will resume on Monday.

Tejpal’s arrest late on Saturday and his remand in the morning followed two weeks of drama after the woman colleague accused the veteran journalist of sexually molesting her in a Goa resort twice in November.

The Tehelka editor, whose weekly magazine is known for investigative journalism, looked drained in his lightly crumpled black suit when he was escorted to the court. After arriving from Delhi, Tejpal spent Friday night in a suite with his immediate family at the Vivanta by Taj in Panaji — and the following night in a police lock-up in the same city.

The media was not allowed to enter the courtroom of judicial magistrate First Class Kshama Joshi where she allowed the police the right to quiz Tejpal for six days in custody.

When police inspector Sunita Sawant, the investigating officer, questions Tejpal over six days, he will have to help police recreate the scene of the crime. This could involve being taken to the same Grand Hyatt hotel near Panaji where the alleged incident took place.

Only weeks ago Tejpal had escorted two cinematic legends — Robert De Niro and Amitabh Bachchan — around the same hotel, the venue for Thinkfest, a highbrow conference attended by global newsmakers and celebrities and organised by a company largely owned by Tejpal.

“He will be confronted about the conflict between his emails and media statements where he admits to a sexual liaison in the elevator on November 7 and 8 and his subsequent rejection of the same,” a police officer said.

It was Tejpal’s email to Shoma Chaudhury, who last week resigned as the Tehelka managing editor, apologizing for his “misconduct” and announcing his recusal of editor-in-chief position for six months which nailed the story for Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.

Parrikar first announced a preliminary enquiry into the accusations of alleged rape because it had taken place in the state. Police filed a first information report, naming the Tehelka boss as the accused.

Govt won’t interfere: Shinde

Mumbai : Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said on Sunday that the Centre cannot interfere in the sexual assault case against editor Tarun Tejpal.

When he was asked why Tejpal’s arrest came after much delay, Shinde said, “Our government does not protect culprits in any way. Since it (Tejpal’s) is a case of a different state, the Centre cannot interfere in it.”

Refusing to comment on the Snoopgate, Shinde only said, “

inquiry will be conducted about all this and decision will be taken.”

“Union and state home secretaries have been authorised to take action on (illegal) snooping,” he said.

On rationalist Narendra Dabholkar murder case, he said state authorities had told him that police had got some clues about the culprits. “I have also spoken to the state government. They are trying their best,” he said.

Reacting to queries on construction of memorial of late Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, Shinde said he looked beyond Thackeray’s image as a leader of an ‘aggressive party.’