Journalism idol Tarun Tejpal charged for raping junior colleague

Panaji, September 28: A journalist with no ethics, Tarun Tejpal who is a former editor-in-chief of Tehelka is charged with sexually assaulting a junior female colleague in the elevator of a hotel in north Goa during an event four years ago.

 

Notably, a court in Goa on Thursday charged Tarun Tejpal with rape and sexual harassment of a junior female colleague in the elevator of a hotel in north Goa during an event in November 2013. The Public Prosecutor Francisco Taviera after the hearing said Tejpal has pleaded not guilty to rape charge but the court declined the request.

Charges are framed and have been explained to Tarun Tejpal. He has pleaded not guilty to a rape charge. He has pleaded guilty to charges under sections 341, 342, 354 A&B, 376 subsections 2," Public Prosecutor Francisco Taviera added. However, earlier this week, the Bombay High Court had also rejected Tejpal's plea to stop the framing of rape charges.

BACKGROUND:

A woman journalist who worked with Tarun Tejpal in Tehelka had accused him of sexually assaulting her inside a lift of five-star hotel during the ThinkFest conference event in Goa in November 2013. Based on the reports, Tejpal was immediately arrested by Goa police on November 30, 2013, but is now out on bail.

The police investigation team said that CCTV footage from the hotel corroborates the woman's allegations against Tarun Tejpal. In a 2,684-page chargesheet filed before the Goa fast-track court, the police said that Tarun Tejpal assaulted the woman twice and that there is enough evidence to prove the charges against him. The woman quit her job later that month and Tarun Tejpal also stepped down as Tehelka Editor.

Tejpal is facing charges under Sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), and 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code had been endorsed by the court, while an additional Section 354 (b) (criminal assault with intent to disrobe) had been added.