Tehelka row: Shoma Chaudhury apologises for 'lapses' in sexual assault case

NEW DELHI: Under attack for attempted cover up, Shoma Chaudhury, who quit as Managing Editor of Tehelka, has apologised before the National Commission for Women for "lapses" in handling the case of alleged sexual assault on a woman journalist by editor of the magazine Tarun Tejpal.

After recording statement of Chaudhury, NCW said it will question the three colleagues of the young journalist with whom she had confided about the alleged sexual offence.

NCW member in-charge of Goa Shamina Shafiq said the Commission will seek all documents from Goa police relating to the sexual assault case against Tejpal.

She said Chaudhury apologised for failing to put in place a complaints committee under Visakha guidelines during deposition at the National Commission for Women which recorded her statement in the case.

"Chaudhury has apologised for not having an anti-sexual harassment committee in the organisation. She also apologised for various lapses in handling the case," NCW member in-charge of Goa Shamina Shafiq said.

She said the NCW has received a complaint from Chaudhury regarding her house being vandalised allegedly by some BJP workers following which police has been asked to file an FIR against the perpetrators.

Shafiq said Delhi police Commissioner B S Bassi has been asked to provide police protection to Chaudhury.

"NCW asked Delhi Police to file FIR against those allegedly involved in vandalising Chaudhury's house," she said.