Assault victim’s gesture ‘encouraging sign,’ says Goa DIG

Panaji – Media reports quoting the victim’s willingness to depose before the police about the two sexual assaults by the Tehelka editor-in-chief are an “encouraging sign”, a senior police official said in the Goa capital Saturday.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) O.P. Mishra also hinted at a press conference at the police headquarters that possible attempts by Tehelka to cover up the sexual assault would! also fall within the ambit of investigation.

“I have seen news ! in one of the news channels and I do welcome this. This is an encouraging gesture for the investigating agency from the victim. But I will not discuss anything,” Mishra told reporters, urging the media not to “concentrate focus of reporting on the nitty-gritty of investigation”.

Asked if the alleged attempts made by Tehelka’s managing editor Shoma Chaudhury to cover up the sexual assault, days after she was formally informed by the victim — a junior staffer at the weekly investigative newspaper — Mishra said: “As a professional, it is premature and not proper for me to react to any such thing. The ambit of investigation will cover all things coming up”.

The victim, in her complaint to Shoma Chaudhury, had said that the 50-year-old editor-in-chief of the magazine had sexually assaulted her twice in the elevator in the Club House section of the Grand Hyatt five star resort during the Think Fest conference Nov 7 and 8.

A Goa Police team is in Delhi to co! llect evidence in the case.

Tejpal has been accused of rape and outraging the modesty of the victim, his junior colleague.