Goa Police to file charge sheet against Tejpal on 17 Feb

Panaji: Goa Police will file a chargesheet on Monday against Tehelka founder-editor Tarun Tejpal who was accused of sexually assaulting his colleague last year. [caption id=“attachment_1392051” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Tarun Tejpal. Reuters[/caption] The chargesheet will be filed before Principal Additional Sessions court judge Anuja Prabhudesai, sources said on Tuesday. Tejpal (50) has been accused of raping a woman in a lift at a star hotel near Panaji during Tehelka’s ThinkFest in November 2013. The high-profile journalist was arrested by the Crime Branch of Goa Police on 30 November after his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by a local court. Tejpal is currently in judicial custody at the Sada sub-jail in Vasco. When contacted, a senior police official refused to divulge details of the chargesheet. Tejpal had been booked under sections 354-A (sexual harassment, physical contact, advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures or any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature), 376 (rape), 376(2)(k) (rape by a person of a woman in his custody taking advantage of his official position), 341 (wrongful restraint) and 342 (wrongful confinement) of the Indian Penal Code. Tejpal has denied the charges. According to sources, the investigating officer had recorded several statements, including that of former Tehelka managing editor Shoma Chaudhury and Tejpal’s daughter, along with the deposition of the victim in connection with the case. PTI