Tehelka case: Victim`s statement recorded, Goa police to interrogate Tarun Tejpal

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Goa police on Wednesday summoned former editor of Tehelka Tarun Tejpal to appear before it on Thursday for questioning in connection with the sexual assault allegation against him. Goa police also set a deadline of 3 pm for Tejpal to appear before the investigating officer for questioning in the case. Meanwhile, the victim (former Tehelka journalist) recorded her statement before the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Panaji today. She corroborated the facts that were mentioned in the mail. The summon was issued shortly after the victim recorded her statement. Delhi High Court today refused to provide interim relief to Tejpal against his arrest in the sexual assault case and reserved its order on his anticipatory bail plea till November 29. Also Read: Tehelka case: Delhi HC defers order on Tejpal`s bail plea Meanwhile, a war of words also continued between Congress and BJP, with the former alleging that the Goa government`s ongoing probe against Tejpal being "politically motivated". Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, however, clarified that there is no influence from his side in the ongoing probe in the case. While addressing a press conference, Parrikar said that there is no pressure on police to act against Tejpal. Importantly, defending her position in the incident, managing editor of Tehelka magazine, Shoma Chaudhury, today denied indulging in the character assassination of the victim. She also said that such allegations have no truth and are part of "malicious campaign" against her. Escalating the ongoing war of words between Congress and BJP, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj alleged that a union minister is "shielding" Tejpal in a direct attack on Law Minister Kapil Sibal, who said that he was not related to Tejpal and did not have any stake in Tehelka news magazine either. The victim is the 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. In her complaint to Chaudhury, the victim 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.