Tarun Tejpal’s anticipatory bail plea rejected, faces arrest

 

Panaji, 30 Nov 2013: Beleagured Tehelka’s founder editor Tarun Tejpal’s plea for anticipatory bail was rejected by the sessions court on Saturday evening and his arrest appeared imminent.

 

The order was pronounced at 8.10pm.

 

The sessions judge Anuja Prabhudesai pronounced the order in a packed court room after a three hours delay. Scorching rumours that he may attend the court, Tejpal chose to go directly to the crime branch at Dona Paula, on the outskirts of the city, at around 4.30pm ahead of the verdict.

 

Tejpal is facing charges of rape and sexual assault after Manohar Parrikar government took suo motu cognizance of the case on November 21. The Goa Police then filed a FIR against him based on media reports and also on the complaint filed by the victim with the news magazine’s managing director Shoma Chaudhury.

 

The case was registered under section 354, 376 and 36 (2) (k) of IPC. The alleged incident occurred at a starred resort in Bambolim, 5km from here, during the ThinkFest between November 7-8, 2013.

 

Tejpal had moved for anticipatory bail Friday morning soon after the non-bailable warrant was issued against him by a Goa court. Though the Goa Police had gone to arrest him in Delhi, they couldn’t do so as the court had granted him relief till 2.30pm Friday. Offering to cooperate with the police, he took a flight to Goa with his daughter and lawyers.

 

The sessions court heard the arguments of Tejpal’s counsel Geeta Luthra on Friday evening and Saturday morning after which public prosecutor Saresh Lotlikar made his submissions that Tehelka founder editor was required for custodial interrogation.

 

In the first half on Saturday, Tejpal had attended the court hearing with his counsel pointing out that he has joined the investigation. Tejpal had also visited the crime branch office at Dona Paula in what was seen as a move to show that he was fully cooperating with the police.