Tehelka founder and Editor-in-Chief Tarun Tejpal (File photo)
Tarun Tejpal, the founder of Tehelka magazine, has suggested that allegations that he sexually assaulted a young colleague in Goa earlier this month are untrue.
But in an apology he emailed to her on Tuesday, Mr Tejpal, 50, referred to a "shameful lapse of judgement that led me to attempt a sexual liaison with you on two occasions on 7 November and 8 November 2013, despite your clear reluctance that you did not want such attention from me." (
Foreign media on Tarun Tejpal)
The young journalist has not pressed charges. She complained about Mr Tejpal to Tehelka's Managing Editor Shoma Chaudhury in an email on Monday that was leaked.
The Goa Police has filed an FIR charging Mr Tejpal with rape on the basis of that note.
Experts including Additional Solicitor General Indira Jaising say that Ms Chaudhary was required by the law to report the complaint to the police. (
Not my place to go to police: Shoma Chaudhury)
Instead, Ms Chaudhary told Tehelka employees in another leaked email that Mr Tejpal had decided to "recuse" himself as editor-in-chief for six months.
Activists, other senior editors and BJP leader and noted lawyer Arun Jaitley have suggested this amounts to an attempted cover-up by Tehelka, which tried to resolve the matter with an internal apology despite grave charges of sexual assault. (
A clear case of rape, says Arun Jaitley)
Ms Chaudhary has denied those accusations. She said she had not informed the police because the victim had asked for it to be dealt with internally through an investigation and an apology to all staff from Mr Tejpal.