Tehelka assault issue simmers as Goa Police comes calling

Hotel says no CCTV was installed in the elevator where the alleged incident took place

A team of Goa Police arrived in New Delhi on Saturday and was likely to question former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal, accused of sexually assaulting a colleague during an annual event organised by the magazine at Grand Hyatt hotel near the state’s capital.

At the time of going to press, the police had recorded the statement of the magazine’s managing editor, Shoma Choudhary, and speculation was rife that Tejpal, 49, would be taken into custody later in the night.

Meanwhile, more people associated with the magazine distanced themselves from it. Jay Mazoomdaar, a wildlife writer and columnist for Tehelka and Pakistani columnist Ayesha Siddiqa announced they would no longer be associated with it.

The alleged incident and the initial response of the magazine’s management have thrown the limelight on inadequate grievance redressal mechanisms at media organisations.

Earlier in the day, the Goa police confirmed they were examining the CCTV footage from the Hyatt hotel but were not in possession of any footage from the elevator where the assault allegedly took place. “The hotel authorities told us they had no cameras in the elevator. We are getting a detailed layout of cameras (from other areas) from the hotel for a detailed analysis,” DIG of Police O P Mishra told reporters.

He said CCTV footage had been formally received from the hotel but could not be immediately examined because of technical and other logistical issues. They were trying to get in touch with agencies for the purpose.

Mishra refused to comment on the arrest of Tejpal, against whom a first information report was filed on Friday, booking him on rape and other charges.

“I would not like to comment anything on arrest of Tejpal,” Mishra said, adding the police were following the standard investigation procedures in the case. He said they had received CCTV footage of the hotel during the days of the annual Tehelka event.

On Saturday, the organisers of Taj Literary Fest also said Tejpal’s book would not be displayed at the event in December.