Tehelka founder and editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal (File photo)
A week after accusing Tehelka founder Tarun Tejpal of sexually assaulting her in Goa, the woman journalist has resigned from the news magazine because she is "deeply traumatised by the lack of support offered by the organisation" and believes Managing Editor Shoma Chaudhary has tried to orchestrate a "cover-up". (
Read the resignation letter of woman journalist)
On Saturday night, the reporter had publicly appealed to Mr Tejpal's associates to halt what she called intimidation and harassment. She said a member of Mr Tejpal's family had visited her mother in Delhi asking what the journalist "wanted" and who she is consulting for legal advice.
The reporter did not press sexual assault charges against Mr Tejpal; she outlined her complaint to Ms Chaudhary in an email last week that was leaked to the media and then cited by the Goa police in its FIR accusing Mr Tejpal of rape.
The reporter has alleged that Ms Chaudhary's reaction to her complaint was prejudiced by her concern to protect Tehelka. She feels especially betrayed by Ms Chaudhary's refusal to describe Mr Tejpal's actions as "sexual misconduct" in an email circulated to Tehelka employees.
In that note, Ms Chaudhary described "an untoward incident" and said Mr Tejpal would be "recusing himself" from office for six months.
Experts have said that given the nature of offences outlined by the journalist in her email, Ms Chaudhary was obliged to report the matter to the police.
Ms Chaudhary has said in her defence that the journalist had asked her not to reveal details of her ordeal to the staff.
"Many things are misunderstood. I have acted the moment I received my colleague's complaint. There is only half the fact in the public domain. I will come up with a coherent written document," she said on Monday.
Mr Tejpal has applied for anticipatory bail; his case will be heard by the Delhi High Court on Tuesday.