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 female colleague in Goa earlier this month are untrue.
But Mr Tejpal appears to be contradicting himself, and legal experts say that Tehelka's response to the young woman suggests an attempted cover-up because it tried to internally resolve a complaint that alleged clear criminal offences. The news-magazine did not report the matter to the police despite an admission of sexual harassment by its founder.
The young journalist has not pressed charges, but has said today that she will cooperate with the police investigation. (
Tejpal's arrest imminent, says Goa Police)
In an apology that Mr Tejpal emailed to the young woman on Tuesday, he 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)
He wrote, "I acknowledge that I did at one point say to your contention that I was your boss, 'That makes it simpler '...But I retracted them saying, 'I withdraw that straight away - no relationship of mine has anything at all, ever, to do with that.'"
Mr Tejpal's note, offered as an apology, came a day after the young journalist, who has not pressed charges, sent an email to Tehelka's Managing Editor Shoma Chaudhury accusing Mr Tejpal of violating her. That email was leaked, and its content prompted the Goa police to file an FIR yesterday, accusing Mr Tejpal of rape. (
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.
She said that 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.