Tehelka founder Tarun Tejpal (File pic)
Tehelka founder Tarun Tejpal, accused of rape, is being treated as an absconder by the Goa Police, which sent a team to Delhi today to arrest the 50-year-old.
After he was not found at home this morning, the Delhi and Goa Police is together searching for him at the houses of his friends and relatives, reports the Press Trust of India
Mr Tejpal's lawyers say that he stands by his earlier commitment to present himself to the Goa Police for interrogation today. They have filed for anticipatory or pre-trial bail in a Goa court.
The senior journalist, who stepped down as Tehelka's editor-in-chief last week, is accused of raping a younger colleague in Goa earlier this month. The state police had ordered him to travel to Goa yesterday for questioning; in a written request, he asked for time till Saturday. The police refused that extension, and now have an arrest warrant for him. (
Read full text of Tarun Tejpal's letter to the police)
Airports have already been alerted to prevent him from leaving the country.
Mr Tejpal has denied the charges of rape against him, and said that the encounter that's being described as rape was "light hearted bantering." (
Read: Only "light-hearted bantering" not sexual assault, says Tarun Tejpal)
The young journalist who has accused him of sexual assault has ardently challenged his version of events, and accused Tehelka and her boss, Shoma Chaudhury, of trying to engineer a cover-up. She quit Tehelka earlier this week. (
Tehelka journalist who accused founder of sexual assault resigns)
Ms Chaudhury also resigned yesterday from Tehelka after days of being pelted with criticism for her handling of the reporter's complaint, sent to her via an email that was leaked. (
Full text: resignation letter sent by woman journalist to Tehelka)
That email was used by the Goa Police to file an FIR against Mr Tejpal.