After being attacked for her alleged attempt to coverup, Shoma Chaudhury, who quit as the Managing Editor of the Tehelka on Thursday morning, apologised before the National Commission for Women (NCW) for ‘lapses’ in handling the case of the alleged sexual assault on a woman journalist by the editor of the magazine, Tarun Tejpal.
“Firstly, Chaudhury was sorry for not acting in a correct ‘situational framework’. She apologised for not having an anti-sexual harassment committee in the organisation under the Vishakha guidelines. She also apologised for various lapses in handling the case,” said Shamina Shafiq, NCW member in-charge of Goa. After recording Chaudhury’s statement, the NCW said it will question the three colleagues of the young journalist whom she had confided in about the alleged sexual offence. Shafiq also said that the Commission will seek all documents from the Goa Police against Tejpal.
Shafiq further informed that the NCW has received a complaint from Chaudhury regarding her house being vandalised allegedly by some BJP workers following which police was asked to file an FIR against the perpetrators. “The Delhi Police Commissioner, BS Bassi, has been asked to provide police protection to Chaudhury. The NCW has also asked the Delhi Police to file an FIR against those allegedly involved in vandalising Chaudhury’s house,” she said.