To, Smt Mamta Sharma Chairman, National Commission for Women

SUB- Complaint Agaisnt Tarun Tejpal and Request to NCW to take stringent legal action against Tarun Tejpal.

Respected Mam, This mail is with reference to the recent shocking revelations about sexual harassment and gross violation of a female journalist committed by the Editor-in-Chief of Tehelka. The revelations are shocking not just because of the sexual exploitation but also for the fact that it has been done by someone who has made a name for himself and his publications by apparently being at the forefront of unearthing wrongdoings of others. However, when it comes to his own gross misconduct and sexual assault by him on one of his subordinates, it is surprising how the set standards have changed. As has been reported in FirstPost, the female victim in question has stated in her letter to the Managing Editor of Tehelka what Tejpal did was not a bad lapse of judgment but a case of serious sexual assault. She says that Tejpal tried to disrobe her and extensively groped her twice during the recently concluded Think festival in Goa. http://www.firstpost.com/india/tarun-tejpal-steps-downas-tehelka-editor-over-sexual-assault-charges-1240999.html?utm_source=ref_article From what has been stated by the female victim in question, it is nothing less than a case of ATTEMPTED RAPE. And yet it is extremely shocking as to how this entire matter is being hushed up by Tehelka as an Internal Matter of the organisation and as if by temporarily resigning from the post of Editor, Tarun Tejpal is voluntarily embracing perhaps the most demanding punishment (Sic!!!) of the land. Can mere temporary resignation from the post of Editor is the punishment as defined by our laws for an attempt to rape? How can an attempt to rape and Sexual assault be termed as an Internal matter of an organisation? If this becomes a precedence then every instance of harassment of women in organisations or by in-laws of married woman, would be termed as an internal affair thereby not being fit for legal and social scrutiny. Therefore I request you to kindly take cognizance of the gravity of the issue and record the statement of the victim and file an FIR against Tarun Tejpal for his violation and dishonouring of

the dignity of a woman. We expect NCW to stand by the victim in her time of distress so that she is not coerced by the organisation concerned to hush up the case. Further, it is unfortunate to see the manner in which he has brought infamy to the idea of honest journalism and have set worst kind of double standards when it comes to subjecting upon himself the same standards of righteousness and rigours of law that he attempts to do on others as a journalist. Mr Tejpal in his letter to the managing Editor of Tehelka, Shoma Chaudhury, has defined his action as A bad lapse of judgment, an awful misreading of the situation, have 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 concerned journalist, but I feel impelled to atone further.http://www.firstpost.com/india/tarun-tejpalsteps-down-as-tehelka-editor-over-sexual-assault-charges1240999.html?utm_source=ref_article However, we find this statement as nothing but hypocritical. What he did was not a bad lapse of judgement but at attempt to RAPE and the Indian Legal System has stringent provisions of punishment for the same. The female victim has also stated (as have been mentioned before) that what happened with her was Sexual Assault. We expect the National Commission for Women to act with alacrity on this issue and do the needful. However if it is found that National Commission for Women has failed to act tough on Tarun Tejpal, then we on behalf of Bhagat Singh Kranti Sena would be forced to knock the doors of justice by next week in addition to a protest against this act that we are conducting at Jantar Mantar on the coming Friday. Yours Faithfully Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga President,Bhagat Singh Kranti Sena 11/35B 2nd Floor, Tilak Nagar New Delhi.110018 M.9818737573