Shoma was hysterical during raid at Tehelka: Goa cops
NEW DELHI: When Goa cops landed up at Tehelka office in South Delhi in connection with the sexual assault case involving founder editor Tarun Tejpal, the operation was as not as smooth as they expected. Sources said managing editor Shoma Chaudhury, who has since resigned, delayed in giving her statement and also became 'hysterical' after police began to make seizures, forcing the cops to stay in the office till 2am.
The three-member Goa Police team, including DySP Sammy Tavares and investigating Officer Sunita Sawant, reached the Tehelka office around 4.45pm on Saturday. The team was equipped with recording devices and laptops. Chaudhury had reached her office an hour before the cops arrived.
Shoma was first questioned by the police team about the sequence of events that had followed after she got to know about the alleged sexual assault. She was made to write her statement on a laptop.
Sources said Shoma shouted at the team and tried to stop them when they decided to take away Tejpal's computer (CPU). She even dropped names of some senior politicians and threatened to make calls, an investigator said.
However, the police team firmly asked her to cooperate or face legal action after which she allegedly complied, sources said. The next day, the cops questioned the three other employees who were told about the alleged assault by the victim in Goa.
Tehelka case: Tejpal sent to 6-day police custody, will be taken to crime scene
Smita Nair Posted online: Sun Dec 01 2013, 16:03 hrs
New Delhi : A day after his arrest, Tehelka founder-editor Tarun Tejpal, accused of sexually assaulting a junior colleague in the lift of a Goa hotel on November 7-8, was sent to police custody for six days on Sunday. Following the court’s order, Tejpal was taken to the Crime Branch office in Dona Paula where he was interrogated through the day.Judicial Magistrate Shama Joshi, who passed the order, did not allow anyone, apart from defence lawyers, the investigation team from Dona Paula Crime Branch and public prosecutor Francis Tavera, inside the courtroom.
Tejpal, wearing the same set of clothes that he wore at the time of his arrest, was brought to court amid heavy security at 11:42 am. The arguments went on for an hour, with public prosecutor Francis Tavera seeking 14 days remand.
During the anticipatory bail hearing on Saturday, special public prosecutor Saresh Lotlikar had indicated that they would seek 14 days’ custody as it is the most “elucidate interrogation”. Tavera argued that since the accused’s version must be recorded and confirmed, he needs to be in custody till the time the investigating agency has completed its investigation.
Outside the court, Tejpal’s counsel Geeta Luthra said they were satisfied with the order.
Sandeep Kapoor, the advocate who represented Tejpal, said, “We counter-argued that the agency has recovered everything they have to. Besides they sealed the office and he has been cooperating. He has made himself available to them on his own. We put forward everything that happened in the last two days. The judge was convinced and said six days is enough.” Kapoor said Tejpal would meet his lawyers for a few minutes during interrogation everyday, as allowed by Principal Judge Anuj Prabhudesai.
The investigating team is expected to take Tejpal to the hotel where the incident is alleged to have occurred, to confirm and reconstruct the sequence of events. Under the criminal procedure code, the mapping of the crime scene along with reconstruction of the incident, will be done in the presence of two panch witnesses.
Investigating officer Sunita Sawant, who attended the court proceedings, will have to build a case based on the three statements given by the alleged victim, and also bring on record Tejpal’s version. Tejpal’s apology emailed to the alleged victim is being treated as his first version.
Tejpal, wearing the same set of clothes that he wore at the time of his arrest, was brought to court amid heavy security at 11:42 am. The arguments went on for an hour, with public prosecutor Francis Tavera seeking 14 days remand.
During the anticipatory bail hearing on Saturday, special public prosecutor Saresh Lotlikar had indicated that they would seek 14 days’ custody as it is the most “elucidate interrogation”. Tavera argued that since the accused’s version must be recorded and confirmed, he needs to be in custody till the time the investigating agency has completed its investigation.
Outside the court, Tejpal’s counsel Geeta Luthra said they were satisfied with the order.
Sandeep Kapoor, the advocate who represented Tejpal, said, “We counter-argued that the agency has recovered everything they have to. Besides they sealed the office and he has been cooperating. He has made himself available to them on his own. We put forward everything that happened in the last two days. The judge was convinced and said six days is enough.” Kapoor said Tejpal would meet his lawyers for a few minutes during interrogation everyday, as allowed by Principal Judge Anuj Prabhudesai.
The investigating team is expected to take Tejpal to the hotel where the incident is alleged to have occurred, to confirm and reconstruct the sequence of events. Under the criminal procedure code, the mapping of the crime scene along with reconstruction of the incident, will be done in the presence of two panch witnesses.
Investigating officer Sunita Sawant, who attended the court proceedings, will have to build a case based on the three statements given by the alleged victim, and also bring on record Tejpal’s version. Tejpal’s apology emailed to the alleged victim is being treated as his first version.