Over the past week, I have been accused of cover-up attempt and not standing by my feminist positions. While I accept I could have done many things differently … I reject the allegations of a cover-up. — Shoma Chaudhary

New Delhi, November 28
Tehelka former Editor-in-Chief Tarun Tejpal today withdrew his anticipatory bail plea from the Delhi High Court in the sexual assault case. His next in command at Tehelka Shoma Chaudhary also resigned as the magazine managing editor rejecting charges of a cover up.

The Goa police further moved court seeking non-bailable arrest warrant (NBW) against Tejpal after he failed to appear before the crime branch. While Tejpal said he was withdrawing the bail plea to approach an appropriate court for appropriate remedy, he could face arrest having failed to present himself before the Goa police by the 3 pm deadline they set for today.

Tejpal, whose request for extension of time till Saturday for appearance before the Investigating Officer (IO) was rejected today, has now told Goa police that he would appear before them tomorrow and join the investigations, his lawyer said in New Delhi in the evening. He said a letter written by Tejpal has been sent through fax to the Goa police. Tejpal skipped the probe deadline giving rise to the likelihood of moving a Goa court tomorrow for anticipatory bail. Shoma quit her job saying she didn’t want questions raised about her integrity to tarnish the reputation of Tehelka.

“Over the past week, I have been accused of an attempt to cover-up and for not standing by my feminist positions. While I accept I could have done many things differently … I reject the allegations of a cover-up … in no way could the first actions that were taken be deemed suppression of any kind… I acted in consonance with my feminist positions by giving my colleague’s account precedence over everything else,” Chaudhury said in her resignation today. She later appeared before the National Commission for Women to explain the magazine’s response on the victim’s account and is said to have apologised for lapses, if any.

A Tehelka journalist had on November 18 emailed Shoma detailing her sexual assault at Tejpal’s hands on two occasions in Goa during the magazine’s Think Fest. She sought a probe committee as laid down by the apex court in the 1997 Vishakha judgment.

But Shoma failed to set it up immediately and to inform the police of a cognisable offence. In turn, she announced that Tejpal’s unconditional apology and his six-month sabbatical from work was “more than what the victim had demanded in the email.”

Today Shoma still defended herself saying she acted in solidarity for the victim.

“To my mind, I acted on instant outrage and solidarity for our colleague as a woman and co-worker,” she said.