The Goa Police issues summons to Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal, asking him to appear by 3 pm before the Investigating Officer, who is probing charges of sexual assault against the high-profile journalist.
Goa Police, who secured the statement of the victim before a Judicial Magistrate on Wednesday under Section 164 CrPc, could possibly arrest Tejpal if he appears before them.“Summons have been issued by e-mail and phone to the accused to report before the Investigating Officer by 3 pm tomorrow (Thursday),” Deputy Inspector-General of Police OP Mishra said. “The victim’s statement was recorded under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code,” he added.
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar who convened a Press conference denied that it was a case of political vendetta. “Is Tejpal a Congress stoogeIJ First Tejpal should clarify that,” Parrikar said when questioned by reporters.Parrikar was obviously referring to statements by several senior Congress leaders that the editor, who has published several investigative stories against the BJP, was being victimised in a BJP-ruled State.
In his plea for anticipatory bail in the Delhi High Court, Tejpal had leveled similar charges. “There is no interference of any sort. I am not in the habit of interfering with police investigations,” the CM said.Parrikar said it was Tejpal’s own confession that led to his downfall. “It was his guilty conscience that made him confess. 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 said.
The Chief Minister said the Investigating Officer takes the final decision as to who should be called for questioning.“I don’t have the time, patience or inclination to monitor the investigation of the case. It is for the Investigating Officer to conduct a fair probe.“When the girl has come out in the open and is cooperating with the police, it is the duty of the State Government to give her justice,” Parrikar said ruling out any vendetta.
Asked about BJP leader Sushma Swaraj’s tweet that a Union Cabinet Minister is “shielding Tejpal,” the Chief Minister said that she was free to comment but her views would not influence the State Government.Parrikar also said that in a bail petition an accused always makes a lot of allegations. “I feel his guilty conscience made him step down for six months. It is a testimony to his guilt. Probably he thought the issue will cool down after this.”
He said that Tejpal’s e-mail (accepting guilt) was not written by the BJP, nor was the resignation, the apology and the SMSs that he had sent to the victim. The Chief Minister said Tejpal’s sudden suspicion of Goa Police must have emerged out of the counsel given by his advisers or he must have realised that he was getting into deep trouble.
On Tejpal’s claims linking the case with the sting operation against Bangaru laxman, Parrikar said: “How does it make any difference to the crime committed by him, if he has committed it. He himself stepped down for six months. Prima facie there is a clear case. Does Tejpal accept that he is a Congress stoogeIJ First let him explain this.”
Parrikar said it would pain one to read what the girl has said in her complaint. “It is not easy for a girl to come out and say these things. This is the positive outcome of what happened on December 16 (gang-rape of a girl on a bus in Delhi). Now girls are coming out very openly without fear.”The victim, who had given her statement to the police in Mumbai on Tuesday, was flown to Goa to record her statement before a Judicial Magistrate. She was kept for the night in a secret location under police watch, before being brought before the Judicial Magistrate on Wednesday morning.
A statement recorded before a Judicial Magistrate makes it admissible in court as evidence and is a preferred legal route in case of sensitive crimes. The media clamour outside the trial court where the victim was deposing, attracted the ire of the police with Mishra warning that criminal action would be initiated against media houses if they harassed the victim or revealed her identity.“Violating the dignity of the victim is a cognizable offence. I will not hesitate to take action,” Mishra said, refusing to address a daily media conference until cameras stationed outside the court premises were removed.