Tehelka scandal: Goa Police charge Tarun Tejpal with rape

Panaji: The Goa Police on Monday today filed its chargesheet Tehelka founder-editor Tarun Tejpal for raping his woman colleague at a Goa resort last year. The editor has also been charged with sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of a woman. [caption id=“attachment_1394167” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Tarun Tejpal. Reuters[/caption] The chargesheet was filed before Principal Additional Sessions court judge Anuja Prabhudesai. Tejpal (50) has been accused of raping the woman in a elevator in a 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. The police, however, have reportedly said there is enough evidence to prove that Tejpal evaded arrest. Tejpal is currently in judicial custody at the Sada sub-jail in Vasco. 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. With PTI inputs