Tehlka editor defends role in harassment case against Tejpal

Shoma Chaudhury, the managing editor of Indian news magazine Tehelka, today defended her role in the allegations of sexual harassment against editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal, who is also the founder of the publication.

Tejpal, 50, was on Thursday charged with rape by the Goa police on a complaint by a female journalist which was first made to Chaudhury, her direct boss. Tejpal has not absolutely denied the charges; but says his version of the event has not been heard. Meanwhile, he has stepped down as chief editor for six months as "penance" for "a bad lapse of judgment".

Chaudhury today told a TV channel, "I still believe it was not my place to go to the police," when asked why she waited for over a month before responding to the complainant. She added that her opinion had been corroborated by legal experts and women activists whom she has consulted. 

Chaudhury said that though Tejpal had a completely different version of the incident, ''because I was driven by my allegiance to women's rights, I completely overrode his version and asked for an unconditional apology because I felt that regardless … he had transgressed as the leader of the institution".

Asked why she accepted his temporary relinquishing of office rather than pushing for his resignation, Chaudhury told NDTV that her actions were guided at least in part by how Tejpal's exit could financially impact the organisation and the jobs of her employees.

Both Tejpal and the journalist who complained against him will have the opportunity to present their versions of the incident to a committee created by Tehelka to investigate the controversy, Chaudhury said.

"I am proud that she spoke up, I don't want to be seen in opposition to her. But now that it is a criminal case, both sides should be heard," she said.

Tejpal said in an earlier statement, ''I offer my fullest cooperation to the police and all other authorities, and look to presenting all the facts of this incident to it. I also urge the committee and the police to obtain, examine and release the CCTV footage so that the accurate version of events stands clearly revealed.''