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Shocker: Tarun Tejpal blames BJP, says Tehelka sexual assault a never happened!

Tarun Tejpal sexual assault case on Tehelka journalist took another sensational turn today.

Arguing that the sexual assault and the rape charge was a “figment of imagination” and a result of the “wrath of vengeance” of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders against Tehelka founder Tarun Tejpal, senior advocates KTS Tulsi and Geeta Luthra requested the court to grant him anticipatory bail in the case.

The court of Justice Sunita Gupta, however, refused to grant interim protection without hearing detailed arguments on the matter. ?I don’t even have a copy of the FIR, how can I pass any orders,? said the court, which then directed the counsel for the Goa Government to submit a copy of the FIR and fixed the matter for arguments on Wednesday morning.

In Tarun Tejpal’s defence, lawyers in their arguments had requested the court to issue orders that no coercive action would be taken against Tarun Tejpal till the application is disposed of, but the court declined to pass any such orders. Undertaking that Tarun Tejpal was willing to join the investigation as and when required, the lawyers said the plea was only for interim protection.

“The FIR has been filed suo motu without any complaint by the victim, and Manohar Parrikar has told the media that he is keeping in touch with the investigation team. This is interference by the executive in the police investigation,” argued Senior Advocate Geeta Luthra.

The counsel for the Government of Goa, Z Madhukar, as well as Criminal Standing Counsel for Delhi Pawan Sharma both opposed the interim bail plea, stating that the case was related to a serious offence, and anticipatory bail could not be granted.

“He has managed to keep himself safe till now. I’m sure he can keep himself safe for two more days,” argued Madhukar, adding that the seriousness of the offence must be kept in mind.

In his plea seeking anticipatory bail, Tarun Tejpal has said the alleged incident of sexual assault was ?only light hearted bantering which lead to a moment of privacy between the two individuals”. He has further said that the victim woman had ?continued to party? and was ?completely normal and friendly all throughout her stay in Goa”.

Further, the plea says the victim or her family members had not approached the police to file a complaint, and the entire incident was ?blown out of proportion by various groups with vested interests, including topmost executives of Goa and even national political leaders of one party”.

?Investigation being carried out by the Goa Police is patently tainted, unfair and is being used as an opportunity to satisfy the long standing grudge of the political executive against the works and ideological stand of the present petitioner,? says the plea further.

Tarun Tejpal’s plea also says that there was ?not a single whisper from any corner? during the Think Fest regarding the alleged sexual assault.

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First published on: 26-11-2013 at 18:58 IST
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