Goa Police issue flight alert on Tejpal after recording victim’s statement

Police sources said the woman’s statement matched the sequence and details in her email complaint to Tehelka managing editor Shoma Chaudhury. The police will also ask her to record her statement in the presence of a magistrate under Section 164.

In Delhi,the family of the woman complained to the police that Tejpal and his aides were pressuring them not to pursue the case. In a written complaint to the Pandav Nagar police,the mother of the woman journalist claimed that Tejpal’s daughter visited her residence Tuesday morning.

“The woman has claimed she was asked who was giving legal advice to the family. The woman also alleged she had been told not to pursue the case. The visitor left the house when the alleged victim’s mother refused to take back the complaint,” said a senior police officer.

The East district police said the complaint had been forwarded to senior officers at police headquarters and legal opinion was being sought. No FIR has been registered.

In Goa,DIG O P Mishra said investigating officer Sunita Sawant had established contact with the alleged victim Monday,four days after the FIR was registered,and a formal statement was being recorded.

“Today,a team of Crime Branch officers,including the investigating officer,are talking to the victim. She is fully cooperating with us. Her statement is being formally recorded,” said Mishra.

“A border checkpost alert has been issued by the investigating officer to all immigration checkposts in the country regarding the alleged accused,in case there is an attempt to leave the country. It is a part of the investigation drill,” said Mishra. The alert has been sent to airports,ports and border checkposts.

Meanwhile,a team has begun the procedure to conduct video-mapping of the “crime scene” at the hotel in Goa,where Tejpal is alleged to have assaulted the woman on November 7 and 8.

The Goa Police and Tehelka have both responded and submitted their action taken report to the National Commission for Women.

On Tejpal’s bail petition,which claims that the probe against him is “patently tainted”,Mishra said,“We have not received or read the petition. We are professionals and we act as per professional norms.”

The BJP dismissed Tejpal’s claim as an “atrocious” allegation to find an “escape route”.

“Does he mean to say that the BJP entered his atma (soul) to get him do this in a hotel lift in Goa?” said former BJP president Venkaiah Naidu. “BJP has no role to play. Let the law takes its own course.” he said.

Criticising Tejpal’s demand for the case to be transferred out of Goa,Naidu said,“In some days,(he) will ask that it be shifted away from India… to the UN.” He also said the “attempts to malign the victim” were “unacceptable”.