The Managing Editor of Tehelka, Shoma Chaudhury has resigned from her post over the Tarun Tejpal controversy
PTI
New Delhi: Managing Editor of Tehelka Shoma Chaudhury resigned today a week after its Editor Tarun Tejpal was exposed as having allegedly sexually assaulting a woman journalist colleague.
Chaudhury's resignation early this morning comes as Goa police appeared to be closing in on Tejpal who has to appear before it by 3 PM today and speculation that she may also be named in the FIR for certain acts of commission and omission after the alleged offence became public.
"Over the past week, I have been accused of an attempt to cover-up and for not standing by my feminist positions. 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," Chaudhury said in her resignation letter. "However, despite this, as a result of what's transpired over the past few days, my integrity has repeatedly been questioned by people from our fraternity and, in fact, by the public at large. I would like to take cognisance of this."
Tejpal, who failed to get any immediate relief on his anticipatory bail petition in the Delhi High Court, was yesterday summoned by the Goa police to appear before it in connection with the probe in the case.
DIG of Police O P Mishra refused to discuss their strategy if he does not turn up before the Investigating Officer. The police may issue a non-bailable warrant against Tejpal if he does not appear before the IO or prolong the questioning till Delhi High Court comes out with its order on his anticipatory bail plea on Friday, experts say.
The police move also came on a day the victim, a former journalist of Tehelka, who was allegedly sexually assaulted in a lift in a five-star hotel in Goa earlier this month, arrived here and recorded her statement under Section 164 of CrPC before a local court.
The statement of the victim under section 164 CrPC is being recorded in a local court here. The process is still on, said Mishra.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had yesterday dismissed Tejpal's accusations that the BJP government in the state was pursuing vendetta against him because of the sting operation conducted by his organisation that unseated party President Bangaru Laxman and other issues.
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