New Delhi: A woman journalist has accused Tarun Tejpal, editor and co–founder of Tehelka of sexual harassment. Tejpal who has reportedly admitted his guilt,has  apologised and stepped down from his position.
It is learnt that the woman is in a state of shock, completely shattered and emotionally scared. Sources reveal that victim was sexually harassed over a period of time. The woman who is almost half his age was reportedly harassed till the core and that he did not spare her despite her pleas.

Although no FIR or legal action has been taken against the editor who is facing serious allegations  just for the reason that the victim preferred to keep mum, a close associate of the victim reveals this to be untrue.

Shoma Chaudhary, managing editor of Tehelka, in an email said Tejpal had rendered an “unconditional apology to the colleague involved.”

In an e-mail to the magazine’s Managing Editor, Chaudhury, Tejpal wrote: “I squarely take the blame for this. A bad lapse of judgment and 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. 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,” he said.

Chaudhury forwarded Tejpal’s mail to Tehelka employees this evening and wrote: “There has been an untoward incident, and though he has extended an unconditional apology to the colleague involved, Tarun will be rescuing himself as the editor of Tehelka for the next six months.”

Even though Chaudhury claims that as it is an internal matter and the victim is satisfied with the action taken, but her associates say the action is not justified. It is said that the victim wants Tehelka to take up a committee to look into sexual harassment and many have already begun to question whether it is adequate action in a case of sexual harassment.

Tejpal has confirmed act as the contents of leaked e-mail, which was put up in a public domain. Adding to this he said, “I think my self-explanatory letter has been put by someone in the public domain.”

An outrage has already been struck, on the social networking site on the statement made by Chaudhary, strangely Javed Akhtar, also came to Tejpal’s defence.

Sources reveal that the incident took place at Goa in a conference named “Thinker 2013”, when the girl was sexually harassed, later which continued for a period of time.

The National Commission for Women states that it is a cognizable offence and Tejpal should face punishment. An FIR or police complaint must be registered.

Tarun J Tejpal, who is a renowned Indian journalist, publisher and a novelist, first launched Tehelka in March 2000 and Tehelka has broken some of the most seminal stories in India in recent years.