Tehelka magazine editor Tarun Tejpal today accepted “misconduct” against a woman journalist and offered to recuse himself from the post and the office for six months.

In a letter to Managing Editor of Tehelka Shoma Chaudhury, Tejpal said, “The last few days have been most testing, and I squarely take the blame for this.... A bad lapse of judgment, an awful misreading of the situation has 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 journalist, but I feel impelled to atone further,” he added.

Tejpal is a founder member of the Tehelka magazine.

“Because it involves Tehelka, and a sterling shared legacy, I feel atonement cannot be just words. I must do the penance that lacerates me. I am therefore offering to recuse myself from the editorship of Tehelka, and from the Tehelka office, for the next six months,” he said in his letter.

Chaudhary later sent a mail to the Tehelka staffers apprising them of the development.

“This may come as a rude surprise to many of you...

"There has been an untoward incident, and though he has extended an unconditional apology to the colleague involved, Tarun will be recusing himself as the editor of Tehelka for the next six months,” she said.

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