Woman journalist set to file complaint against Tejpal, quits Tehelka

PANAJI/NEW DELHI: The woman journalist who has accused Tehelka founder-editor Tarun Tejpal of sexually assaulting her told Goa police on Monday, hours after she quit Tehelka, that she was ready to appear before a magistrate and record her statement. Simultaneously, Tejpal's defence team moved to shield him from arrest with a court plea for anticipatory bail and for transferring his case out of Goa, where he fears persecution from the BJP-led government.

The Mumbai-based journalist's decision to file a legal complaint came as a boost for Goa police which appeared to be struggling to move forward in the absence of a formal accusation from the woman. Sources said she had told a police officer that she was ready to give a statement either in Mumbai or travel to Goa to record it before a magistrate. She narrated the sequence of events on the night of November 7 and November 8.

Full text of woman journalist's resignation letter

In her resignation letter to Tehelka managing editor Shoma Chaudhury, she made a scathing indictment of Tejpal and Chaudhury. She described herself as "shattered" and accusing the two of "intimidation, character assassination and slander" who had failed women, employees, journalists and feminists collectively.

She said in their public acknowledgement of the incident, Tejpal and Chaudury had referred to his act of sexual violation as "an untoward incident" which was an "attempt to cover-up" what had really occurred and not to "protect the institution." Chaudhury said she had accepted the resignation.

Tejpal on Monday moved the Delhi high court with an anticipatory bail plea that not just refuted the allegations but attempted to discredit her version by claiming that she "continued to party, was completely normal and friendly" even after the alleged assault. A hearing was set for Tuesday.

Read: Tejpal discredits young victim to save himself

Tejpal's lawyers had earlier said they wouldn't file an anticipatory bail plea.

(Inputs from Murari Shetye in Goa, Himanshi Dhawan & Abinav Garg in Delhi)