New Delhi : After a woman journalist accused Tarun Tejpal, editor of Tehelka on the grounds of sexual harassment wherein he apologized and stepped down from his position, and no legal action was taken against him, articulating that the victim did not wish to propagate has already created an outrage on the social networking sites.
 
Tarun Tejpal a distinguished journalist and a writer in industry, worked in India Today magazine, co founded – Outlook, India Ink and Tehelka, has very easily stepped aside from his position with just an apology letter after sexually assaulting a girl and even admitting to it.
 
No FIR or official action has been taken against Tejpal but an infuriated public outlook is triggering on the leading social networking sites over  such a non-apologetical act.
 
The comments tweeted by some of the prominent people in industry are as follows:
 
Kushan Mitra, the Managing Editor of the Pioneer newspaper, tweeted his response to the foul incident: “Those of us who aspire to be pompous pricks really ought to read Tarun Tejpal’s letter.”
 
After Tejpal admitted his remorse, Javed Akhtar, the writer and poet, defensively tweeted: “It is a shame that someone with such impeccable values has committed such an act but unlike some he has the guts to accept and repent.”

Bhupendra Chaubey of CNN-IBN termed it to be like the “Nirbhaya case”, saying it had touched “a raw nerve with journalists across the board”. He went on to tweet: “Difficult to sleep today, just going thru mail of what the girl at Tehelka went thru, ashamed of this profession.”
Suhasini Haidar of CNN-IBN advised the victim to file a police case, tweeting “It is our silence that enables, emboldens offenders the most”.

Tarek Fatah, whose Twitter handle proclaims himself as an Indian born in Pakistan, had this to say: “Prominent Indian editor sexually assaults female staffer. Gets no jail time; just 6 months leave. WTF? Unbelievable!”

Journalist Madhu Kishwar tweeted: ‘”Error of judgment” phrase by #TarunTejpal most intriguing. Does it mean he thought, she would yield like many others?’
 
Initial enquiry at Goa
 
It was reported that the assault had taken place at Goa, during a conference which was attended by the involved. The Goa government has ordered an inquiry into alleged sexual assault by Tehelka’s Tarun Tejpal.
 
No formal statement has been made by the girl, till date but the Goa state police is trying to contact the woman for a formal report. Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told, “We have ordered a preliminary inquiry. If the allegations are found to be true, the police will register a case.”
 
It is recently known that the girl who was satisfied with the action and did not wish to legalize it has now demanded action under the Supreme Court of India’s Vishaka Judgement guidelines.More details are awaited.
 
The Letter from Tehelka Managing Editor’s Shoma Chaudhary to her employees:
 
Tehelka Managing Editor’s Shoma Chaudhary e-mail to employees (not released to the media by the magazine, but which is available on the internet):
 
From: “Shoma Chaudhury”
Date: 20 Nov 2013 19:03
Subject: FW: Atonement
To: “Editors”
Cc: “Bureau”
 
Tehelka is an institution he has built, and which many journalists both current and former, have contributed to in the most profound ways. Throughout our 13-year career, we have proudly articulated and tried to live by the highest standards. We have also believed that when there is a mistake or lapse of any kind, one can only respond with right thought and action. In keeping with this stated principle, and the collective values we live by, Tarun will be stepping down for the period mentioned.
 
This is a hard time for all of us, and I hope all of you will stand by the institution.
 
Best,
Shoma
 
The Letter from Tarun Tejpal Editor-in-Chief  to the Managing Editor Shoma Chaudhary:
 
Email written by Tejpal (not released by Tehelka):
—–Original Message—–
From: Tarun J Tejpal [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, November 20, 2013 2:58 PM
To: Shoma Chaudhury
Subject: Atonement
 
 
My Dear Shoma,
 
The last few days have been most testing, and I squarely take the blame for this. A bad lapse of judgment, an awful misreading of the situation, have led to an unfortunate incident that rails against all we believe in and fight for.
 
I have already unconditionally apologised for my misconduct to the concerned journalist, but I feel impelled to atone further. Tehelka has been born and built, day on day, with my blood, toil, tears and sweat, and that of many others, against near-insurmountable odds. It has lived for and fought the big battles of our time, always on the side of the oppressed and the wronged, always on the side of equity and justice. Its voice has travelled the world and changed policy and perceptions. It has been a beacon for those who would do the right thing. Through bad, and worse  times I have protected Tehelka and its journalists from the inevitable demands of power and corporations.
 
I have always allowed every journalist’s sense of the right to flower and express itself. No one has ever been asked to do what they don’t believe in. I have always held that Tehelka the institution, and its work, have always been infinitely more important than any of us individuals. It is tragic, therefore, that in a lapse of judgment I have hurt our own high principles. Because it involves Tehelka, and a sterling shared legacy, I feel atonement cannot be just words. I must do the penance that lacerates me. I am therefore offering to rescue myself from the editorship of Tehelka, and from the Tehelka office, for the next six months.
 
 
You have always been stellar, Shoma, and even as I apologise to you and all my other colleagues, for this unfortunate incident, I leave Tehelka in your more than capable and safe hands.
 
In apology,
Tarun
Sent from BlackBerry(r) on Airtel

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