The Goa Police on Wednesday issued summons to Tehelka ’s Editor-in-Chief Tarun Tejpal to appear before it in connection with the sexual assault charges against him.
This comes on a day when the woman journalist who made the allegations against him recorded her statement before a judicial magistrate in Panaji. The journalist was brought to the city late on Tuesday night after crime branch officials recorded her statement in Mumbai on Tuesday.
The Goa Police said Mr. Tejpal has to appear before them by 3 p.m. on Thursday. “He will be informed about the summons by telephone and email. If he fails to appear by the deadline, an arrest warrant can be issued against him,” said Deputy Inspector General of Police O.P. Mishra.
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The journalist’s statement was recorded over six hours before judicial magistrate Sarika Phaldesai under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code. She was also taken to Hotel Grand Hyatt where the alleged incident took place to recreate the crime scene, sources in the police said.
No interim relief
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday too declined to grant interim protection to Mr. Tejpal against his arrest.
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Justice Sunita Gupta declined his plea till the court decided on his application for transit bail. Justice Gupta reserved her order on transit bail for November 29, 2013 after hearing him and counsel for the Goa police.
Mr. Tejpal’s counsel limited his argument to the plea for transit bail for four weeks to enable him to travel to Goa and move the appropriate authorities there. Counsel submitted that he was not going into the merit of the case. He was just seeking protection for four weeks against arrest.