New Delhi, November 23
Days after a Tehelka staffer emailed her senior colleague alleging rape by the magazine’s editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal while they were in Goa, a three-member team of the state police reached the magazine’s office in Delhi’s Greater Kailash today and questioned the magazine’s managing editor Shoma Chaudhury. The police are likely to question Tejpal as well.

The police have askedChaudhury to hand over her laptop, computer hard disk and iPad for scrutiny, sources said. Chaudhury has reportedly shared all documents requested by the Goa Police and has said that she will continue to cooperate in the investigation.

A Panaji report quoting the police said that they have been told that there are no CCTV cameras in the elevator of the hotel where the alleged sexually assault case had taken place.

“The hotel authorities have told us that they have no specific cameras in the elevator. We are getting a detailed layout of cameras (from other areas) from the hotel and make a detailed analysis,” said DIG of Police OP Mishra. He said the CCTV footage has been formally received from the hotel but could not be immediately examined because of technical and other factors.

Police sources said Tejpal’s letter of apology emailed to the young woman journalist whom he allegedly sexually assaulted had provided them with new evidence. The Goa Police team is led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Sammy Tavares and includes a woman.

There were reports that Tejpal had hired prominent lawyer Raian Karanjawala and that he might file an anticipatory bail plea. Delhi Police additional commissioner of police (crime branch) Ravindra Yadav said the Goa team was likely to stay in Delhi for four days. “They will also record the victim’s statement.

We are providing all help to them,” said Yadav. The Goa Police have registered an FIR against Tejpal on the charge of raping his junior colleagues at a hotel in Goa on two occasions on November 7 and 8. In the FIR, lodged on behalf of the Goa government, the police has slapped three charges against Tejpal under Sections 354A IPC (molestation), 376 IPC (rape) and 376(2) IPC (rape of a woman in the custody of the perpetrator). While Section 354A entails punishment ranging from mere fine to five years in jail, the other two crimes are punishable with a maximum sentence of life term. Inspector Sunita Sawant in the CID Crime Branch at Dona Paula, Goa, has booked Tejpal on the basis of reports on social sites, news channels and in newspapers as well as after obtaining a copy of the email the victim had sent to Tehelka Shoma Chaudhury.

Before registering the FIR, the police also conducted a preliminary enquiry. According to the FIR, the police inspector had sent an email and SMS to Shoma Chaudhury and also talked to her on her mobile phone asking her to forward the complaint of the female victim and other relevant information.

Chaudhury, who had yesterday asserted that Tehelka would not go to police as it was for the victim to decide on it, today said she was in touch with the cops and was ready to provide all necessary information to them.