A Goa police team today raided Tehelka former Editor Tarun Tejpal’s house here to arrest him but returned empty handed after finding that he was not there.
Armed with a non-bailable warrant, the team reached the residence of Tejpal, who has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman colleague, in Jungpura area of South Delhi a little after 6 a.m. and spent over 90 minutes.
One of the officials later said they did not find Tejpal in the house. Crime Branch personnel from Delhi police also accompanied the Goa police team.
According to police, Tejpal’s wife Geetan Batra refused to divulge to the police any details of his whereabouts.
Police then left his house and may look at other possible locations where he could be found.
The latest action by police came after they rejected Tejpal’s request for time till Saturday to appear before them for the investigation into his involvement in the case of sexual assault that had allegedly taken place at a hotel in Goa earlier this month.
After the rejection of his request, Tejpal’s lawyer said that he would appear before the police today in Panaji and extend “complete and full cooperation” in the investigation.
Goa police, however, yesterday moved a court and secured a non-bailable warrant against 50-year-old Tejpal.
On Wednesday, Goa police had directed Tejpal to appear before it by 3 p.m. yesterday. The direction had come after the complainant, who has alleged that she was sexually assaulted by him in a lift in a five-star hotel in Goa, recorded her statement under Section 164 of CrPC before a magistrate in Panaji.
The controversy also saw the resignation of Shoma Chaudhury as Managing Editor of Tehelka, who is being accused of attempting to cover up the matter.
Chaudhury had sent her resignation yesterday as there was speculation that she may also be named in the FIR for certain alleged acts of commission and omission after the scandal became public