File photo of Tarun Tejpal
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today lashed out at Tehelka founder Tarun Tejpal, accused of sexually assaulting his employee, arguing that that his claim that the act was consensual could not be true.
"Someone told me that this man (Tarun Tejpal) is saying that it is consensual. I wonder what he must have done within four minutes and that too in a lift," Mr Parrikar reacted last evening addressing a function in south Goa.
He said that Tejpal by recusing himself for six months has admitted to the act.
"By taking six month recuse from his position, this man has agreed to his felony. It is unfortunate that this man wants to take sanyas and come back in six months," the chief minister said.
The Goa police have already filed First Information Report (FIR) against Tejpal for raping and outraging the modesty of the girl.
A state police team has taken the statement of Tehelka Managing Editor Shoma Chaudhary and other witnesses whom the victim had spoken to.
Mr Parrikar said that the police are doing their duty by filing the FIR against Tejpal. "What he has done is inhuman," he said.
Mr Parrikar said that the incident is an indication of downgrading of educational values in the country. "I fear people will lose their interest in education and wonder as to what is the value of education," he said.
Going by this episode "one can imagine what must be going in the minds of parents while sending their daughters to outstation destinations for sports or any event accompanied by male teachers," he added.