New Delhi: It was a day of high drama in the sexual assault case against Tehelka Founder-Editor Tarun Tejpal. The day witnessed fast-paced developments begining with the unexpected resignation of Tehelka Managing Editor Shoma Chaudhury, Tejpal withdrawing his transit anticipatory bail application from Delhi High Court and failing to appear before Goa Police, his former lawyer Ram Jethmalani calling him an embarassment and finally a Goa court issuing a non-bailable warrant against him.
The day began with the resignation of Shoma Chaudhary, who has been accused of going soft on Tejpal and not standing by the woman journalist who had accused him of sexually assaulting her. In her resignation that she sent in an email at 5 am, Shoma Chaudhury said that it has been a damaging time for all associates in Tehelka.
She rejected the cover-up allegations against her saying, "While I accept that I could have done many things differently and in a more measured way, I reject the allegations of a cover-up because in no way could the first actions that were taken be deemed suppression of any kind. As for my feminist positions, I believe I acted in consonance with them by giving my colleague's account precedence over everything else."
The National Commission for Women, however, said that Chaudhury's resignation won't make a difference to the case. NCW member Nirmlala Samant also said that Chaudhury cannot escape responsibility by resigning.
Tejpal, who had applied for an anticipatory bail in the Delhi High Court on Wednesday, withdrew his application stating that he will file it in the respective court meaning one which had jurisdiction over Goa. Tejpal also found himself cornered over a request seeking more time to appear for questioning before the Goa Police.
Soon after the 3PM deadline set by the Goa Police expired, the Tehelka Editor-in-Chief found Goa Police DIG OP Mishra announcing that Tejpal's arrest was imminent. "We have refused to give Tejpal any further time to appear before the police. When summon was issued to Tejpal we took into account the journey time," said Mishra.
The Goa Police wasted no time to move court for a non-nailable warrant against Tejpal in a Sessions Court granted the same.
Meanwhile, eminent lawyer Ram Jethmalani reacted to the sexual assault allegations Tejpal, saying that he was deeply disturbed by the incident. Jethmalani, who is Tejpal's former lawyer and one of the principal investors in Tehelka, said that he was ashamed by the way Tejpal has conducted himself in the case.
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