Sexual assault case: NCW asks Mumbai police for victim`s security; Tejpal may move court

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Sunday asked the Mumbai police to provide security to the young woman journalist who was sexually assaulted by the Tehelka magazine editor, Tarun Tejpal, in an elevator at a Goa resort. The call for security comes after the victim alleged that she was being pressurised in the case. In a statement, she said that a person close to Tarun Tejpal had met her family and wanted to know what legal actions they were planning to take in the case. The relative also wanted to know what the victim and her family `wanted` in return to take back the case. The female journalist added, "This visit has placed tremendous emotional pressure on my family and I at an intensely traumatic time. I fear this may be the beginning of a period of further intimidation and harassment." NCW member Nirmala Samant said that the Mumbai police have assured that security cover will be given if the victim approaches them. Meanwhile, Tejpal is reportedly likely to approach High Court seeking a change in the investigating agency and transfer of the case from Goa police to a central agency. The Goa police recorded the statements of three other Tehelka employees today who were informed about the incident by the victim after it took place. The statements of the witnesses were recorded at Goa Sadan in the national capital. The statements corroborated with the series of events that the victim had stated, as per news reports. The names of the three colleagues have also been mentioned in the complaint made to the magazine`s managing editor Shoma Chaudhury. The police also questioned Chaudhury for around nine hours today. "It was a good experience. I hope to bring clarity and justice to the case," Chaudhury reportedly said. The police team along with Delhi police officials arrived in Delhi yesterday and questioned Chaudhury at the Tehelka office premises. They scrutinised documents, including on the laptop and iPad of the managing editor and asked her to submit a written statement on the issue. They took possession of the e-mails which were circulated between her, Tejpal, the victim and her friends as evidence, according to Goa Police sources. Meanwhile, the victim on Saturday revealed for the first time that she was being pressurised in the case. The victim, in her complaint to Chaudhury had said that Tejpal had sexually assaulted her twice in the elevator in a five star resort during the high-profile ThinkFest conference on November 7-8. The victim is daughter of a former colleague of Tejpal, who has recused himself from his post as editor after being accused of sexual assault by the victim.