File photo of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar
Panaji:
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has said that he will ensure the police do not come under the influence of Tarun Tejpal's profile, who has been accused of sexual assault by a Tehelka journalist. He said all criminals should be treated as criminals.
"I told the police that they should not bother about the stature of a person in deciding this matter. They should be treating a criminal as a criminal, irrespective of his stature in the society. So, police, after doing a preliminary enquiry, realised that there is substance in the matter, that prima facie there exists something in the substance and they've registered a case," Mr Parrikar told NDTV.
He said that from whatever things have happened, it appears that there are certain things which have happened not in a right way. "There is encroachment, physical intrusion, it's a rape-like situation definitely. Therefore,subject to all legal procedures, he should be punished. And he appears to accepted the guilt by going on sanyas for six months," the Chief Minister said.
"It's an FIR, it's not a chargesheet," he said, adding, "I will ensure that they (police) do not get influenced, not even by me."
The Chief Minister also said that the have obtained the CCTV footage of the hotel where the alleged sexual assault is said to have taken place.
Asked about the possibility of Tejpal's arrest, he said, "It has to be the police's decision based on whether in the initial phase he cooperates or not. If he cooperates in the matter, they can take different decision for some time being at least. But a crime requires serious investigation, and serious punishment also."
Asked about BJP leader Arun Jaitley's comment critical of Congress leaders for not making their comments on Mr Tejpal issue, the Chief Minister said, "I don't see a criminal from political angle. If he has done a crime, he has to pay for it."
"I told the police that they should not bother about the stature of a person in deciding this matter. They should be treating a criminal as a criminal, irrespective of his stature in the society. So, police, after doing a preliminary enquiry, realised that there is substance in the matter, that prima facie there exists something in the substance and they've registered a case," Mr Parrikar told NDTV.
He said that from whatever things have happened, it appears that there are certain things which have happened not in a right way. "There is encroachment, physical intrusion, it's a rape-like situation definitely. Therefore,subject to all legal procedures, he should be punished. And he appears to accepted the guilt by going on sanyas for six months," the Chief Minister said.
"It's an FIR, it's not a chargesheet," he said, adding, "I will ensure that they (police) do not get influenced, not even by me."
The Chief Minister also said that the have obtained the CCTV footage of the hotel where the alleged sexual assault is said to have taken place.
Asked about the possibility of Tejpal's arrest, he said, "It has to be the police's decision based on whether in the initial phase he cooperates or not. If he cooperates in the matter, they can take different decision for some time being at least. But a crime requires serious investigation, and serious punishment also."
Asked about BJP leader Arun Jaitley's comment critical of Congress leaders for not making their comments on Mr Tejpal issue, the Chief Minister said, "I don't see a criminal from political angle. If he has done a crime, he has to pay for it."
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