Tejpal files anticipatory bail plea in Panaji Sessions Court

Tehelka Editor-in-Chief Tarun Tejpal, who has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman colleague, filed an anticipatory bail plea in Panaji Sessions Court on Friday. The court granted interim bail till 2.30 p.m. to Mr. Tejpal. The court will take his anticipatory bail plea hearing at 2.30 p.m.

Earlier in the day, a Goa police team raided Mr. Tejpal’s house in New Delhi in a bid to arrest him but returned empty handed after finding that he was not there.

Armed with a non-bailable warrant, the team reached the residence of Mr. Tejpal, who has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman colleague, in Jungpura area of South Delhi a little after 6 a.m. and spent over 90 minutes.

One of the officials later said they did not find Mr. Tejpal in the house. Crime Branch personnel from Delhi police also accompanied the Goa Police team.

Mr. Tejpal’s wife Geetan Batra refused to divulge details of his whereabouts, police said.

Police left his house and may look at other possible locations where he could be found. The police action came after they rejected Mr. Tejpal’s request for time till Saturday to appear before them for the investigation into his involvement in the case of sexual assault that had allegedly taken place at a hotel in Goa earlier this month.

After the rejection of his request, Mr. Tejpal’s lawyer said he would appear before the police today in Panaji and extend “complete and full cooperation” in the investigation.

Goa police, however, on Thursday moved court and secured a non-bailable warrant against 50-year-old Mr. Tejpal.

On Wednesday, Goa police had directed Mr. Tejpal to appear before it by 3 p.m. on Thursday. The direction had come after the victim, who has alleged that she was sexually assaulted by him in a lift in a five-star hotel in Goa, recorded her statement under Section 164 of CrPC before a magistrate in Panaji.

The controversy also saw resignation of Shoma Chaudhury as Managing Editor of Tehelka, who is being accused of attempting to cover up the matter.

Ms. Chaudhury sent her resignation on Thursday, as there was speculation that she may also be named in the FIR for certain alleged acts of commission and omission after the scandal became public.