PANAJI, Nov 30:
Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal was tonight arrested by Goa police, ten days after it became public that he had allegedly sexually assaulted a woman journalist colleague during an event here early this month.
Tejpal’s cat-and-mouse game with the police ended 90 minutes after District and Sessions Judge Anuja Prabhudesai rejected his anticipatory bail plea which was argued for the last two days and strongly opposed by the prosecution. Details of the order are yet to come out.
The 50-year-old Tehelka founder was formally taken into custody at the Crime Branch headquarters in Dona Paula where Tejpal, along with his family, was waiting for the delayed court order for three and half hours from 4.30 pm.
Tejpal’s wife, daughter, brother and his friend Sanjay Roy came out of the police outpost once he was placed under arrest. He will be taken for mandatory medical test.
Known for investigative journalism through sting operations, Tejpal dodged a combined team of Goa and Delhi police which had raided his house in Delhi at the crack of dawn yesterday. He landed in Goa only after the Sessions Judge gave him interim protection against arrest order till her final order.
The whole episode came to light on November 20 with Tejpal accepting “misconduct” against the journalist and offered to recuse himself from the post and the office for six months.
Since then, he has made flip-flops, claiming it was a consensual act and virtually questioning the integrity of the woman journalist who had alleged that he attempted sexual assault on her twice in a lift in a five-star hotel here.
Judge Prabhudesai passed the order dismissing Tejpal’s plea for relief after hearing the arguments of the prosecution and the defence.
The prosecution strongly opposed the bail plea saying custodial interrogation of Tejpal was required because prima facie a case of rape has been made out against him.
However, the Judge allowed Tejpal to take the assistance of his lawyer briefly once a day, if he wants, during interrogation if he is taken into custody. He will also be allowed to have home-cooked food.
Tejpal’s lawyer Geeta Luthra said they will not be challenging the session court’s order right now.
50-year-old Tehelka founder was in the Crime Branch headquarters even as the judgement was awaited.
The judge, who earlier in the morning reserved the order for 4.30 pm, pronounced it only around 8 pm.
Goa police have filed an FIR slapping charges of rape, custodial rape and outraging the modesty of a woman journalist of Tehelka during an event hosted by the magazine in a five-star hotel in Goa earlier this month.
If convicted, Tejpal faces a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life sentence in jail.
Tejpal, who had dodged a Goa police team which had gone to his residence in Delhi, arrived here after the court gave him interim relief from arrest yesterday.
The hearing in the case continued overnight and the judge reserved the order for 4.30 pm. However, the judge took more time and delivered the judgement only around 8pm.
Public Prosecutor (PP) Saresh Lotlikar argued Tejpal should be in police custody so that he can be properly interrogated.
He said Tejpal has been changing his version and is now claiming he has not been heard.
“The accused has been changing colours like a chameleon through different statements,” he told the District and Sessions Judge.
Tejpal, who was present in the court today, was later heckled by a protester who hurled a black flag on him but missed the target as he entered the car.
Lotlikar said the CCTV footage of the hotel in Goa, where the incident had occurred, gives enough hints confirming the allegation of rape.
The Public Prosecutor also contended Tejpal was not available for Goa Police and appeared only after getting interim relief from the court yesterday.
He alleged Tejpal has in the past tried to influence the family of the complainant and referred to an FIR filed in Delhi in this regard.
That the accused is interfering in the investigation is well corroborated by his past conduct, he said.
The PP noted that the victim has been consistent in her statements. (PTI)
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