File photo: Tehelka founder Tarun Tejpal
Tarun Tejpal, the founder of Tehelka magazine who has been accused of raping a junior colleague in Goa earlier this month, has applied for anticipatory bail in the Delhi High Court.
His case will be heard tomorrow.
Over the weekend, the Goa Police recorded the testimony of three Tehelka employees in whom the young journalist had confided. (
Read)
Mr Tejpal has not been questioned yet; nor has the young journalist, who lives in Mumbai.
Over the weekend she expressed fears of intimidation and harassment -she said that a member of Mr Tejpal's immediate family had visited her mother in in Delhi and asked what the journalist "wanted". (
Read: 'I fear intimidation, harassment', says journalist)
Mr Tejpal, 50, has offered contradicting versions of what happened at his magazine's annual and high-profile conference in Goa. In an apology emailed to the young woman last week, he wrote, "I apologize unconditionally for the shameful lapse of judgement that led me to attempt a sexual liaison with you on two occasions....despite your clear reluctance that you did not want such attention from me." (
Full text of Tarun Tejpal's email to young journalist)
But after the Goa Police filed an FIR against him for rape, he said on Friday that the encounter had been consensual. (
Read: After Tarun Tejpal's email, signs of cover-up)
The journalist has not pressed charges but has said she will cooperate with the investigation.
She reported the alleged sexual assault first to Tehelka Managing Editor Shoma Chaudhury in a lengthy email, which was leaked. It is on the basis of this note that the Goa Police commenced the investigation against Mr Tejpal.
Ms Chaudhury's own role in the controversy is under intense scrutiny since experts say she broke the law by failing to report the matter to the police though the journalist clearly alleged sexual assault in her email. (
Watch: 'Not my place to go to the police,' says Tehelka's Shoma Chaudhury)
Ms Chaudhary instead wrote to Tehelka employees informing them that Mr Tejpal had decided to take six months off.
Over the weekend, she was interrogated in Delhi by the Goa Police in a video-taped session that lasted several hours.