Goa Police issue summons to Shoma Chaudhury, other witnesses in Tarun Tejpal case

PANAJI: Goa Police on Wednesday issued summons to former Tehelka managing editor Shoma Chaudhury and three other key witnesses, seeking their presence in the state for recording of statements in the Tarun Tejpal sexual assault case.

Police sources said summons had been issued via email as well as in physical form, and were served by Tuesday evening.

The victim, an ex-employee of Tehelka news magazine, accused Chaudhury of attempting to cover up the sexual assault complaint against Tejpal, which had been addressed to her. The former managing editor of the magazine, well known for her feminist stance in the past, has denied the charge.

The three other Tehelka employees summoned, some of whom have since resigned, are Ishan Tankha, Shougat Dasgupta and G Vishnu.

Goa Police had recorded a statement from Chaudhury as well as the three others when a police team had arrived in New Delhi last week. The effort now is to record the statement in the presence of a judicial magistrate.

Tarun Tejpal, former editor-in-chief of Tehelka news magazine, was arrested after a former junior employee accused him of sexual assault in the elevator of a five-star hotel in the Goa capital on Nov 7 and 8, when Thinkfest, an event organized by the magazine, was being held.