Goa CM Manohar Parrikar rejects claims of interfering in Tarun Tejpal probe

PANAJI: Rejecting allegations of showing undue interest in and interfering with the probe, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday said the state government has a duty to do justice to the girl in the case of alleged sexual assault by Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal.

"I am the administrator of the state. As Chief Minister of the state my job is to ensure justice to the girl...if what she says has legal support to ensure that justice is made out," he told a press conference here.

He denied there was any pressure from any quarters on the Goa police investigating the case of the alleged assault by Tejpal on a woman journalist of his office in an elevator in a Goa hotel during a Thinkfest organised by his magazine Tehelka earlier this month.

"The state government does not intend to monitor (the case) except asking the police department for a speedy disposal of the case. I have told the police not to take any pressure from any quarters," he said. "I dont have the time or inclination to influence the investigation," he added.

Replying to questions about Tejpal's charge in his bail petition before the Delhi High Court that the BJP government was targeting him, Parrikar said he (Tejpal) did not realise that when he held the function nor when he "confessed" or when he went on "sanyas". "So suddenly he has realised it is the BJP government," he said.

"The incident did not involve BJP, nor did BJP send the mails or ask for 6 months leave," he said. Parrikar went on to ask whether Tejpal accepted that he was a stooge. "Does Tejpal accept he is a Congress stooge?," he asked.

The Chief Minister said the investigating officer takes the final decision as to who should be called or not for questioning.: Rejecting allegations of showing undue interest in and interfering with the probe, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today said the state government has a duty to do justice to the girl in the case of alleged sexual assault by Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal.

"I am the administrator of the state. As Chief Minister of the state my job is to ensure justice to the girl...if what she says has legal support to ensure that justice is made out," he told a press conference here.

He denied there was any pressure from any quarters on the Goa police investigating the case of the alleged assault by Tejpal on a woman journalist of his office in an elevator in a Goa hotel during a Thinkfest organised by his magazine Tehelka earlier this month.

"The state government does not intend to monitor (the case) except asking the police department for a speedy disposal of the case. I have told the police not to take any pressure from any quarters," he said.

Replying to questions about Tejpal's charge in his bail petition before the Delhi High Court that the BJP government was targeting him, Parrikar said he (Tejpal) did not realise that when he held the function nor when he "confessed" or when he went on "sanyas". "So suddenly he has realised it is the BJP government," he said.

The Chief Minister said the investigating officer takes the final decision as to who should be called or not for questioning.