Crime Branch questions daughter
TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: While Tejpal’s six day police custody ends on Friday, the same morning the three crucial witnesses in the case are also scheduled to depose before a judicial magistrate, even as questioning of witnesses related to the case continued.
They were reported to be in Goa on Thursday and kept at an undisclosed destination to ensure their safety by the Goa police.
The witnesses are in fact the woman journalist’s former colleagues to whom she had recounted the ordeal after Tejpal allegedly assaulted her in an elevator of the hotel where the ‘Think Fest’ was hosted on November 7.
Tehelka’s former Managing Editor Shoma Chaudhary is to appear before the magistrate on Saturday morning.
Meanwhile, sources say that Tejpal’s daughter was questioned for a couple of hours Thursday by the Crime Branch.
The Crime Branch inspector Sunita Sawant, who is heading the investigation had moved the magistrate seeking permission to summon the four.
The investigating team has already recorded the statement of the victim under section 164 CrPC after which Tejpal was issued summons.
Meanwhile, the Crime Branch will in all probability seek extension of Tejpal’s custody when he will be produced before the court. However, his lawyers are still deciding whether or not to move for his bail. One of his lawyers, on condition of anonymity said they will decide about the bail application only after any move is made by the investigation officer.
“If they are seeking his extension and it is granted, it is pointless moving for his bail. But if they don’t require his custody or he is sent to judicial remand, we will move for bail,” he said.
Police sources said that Tejpal has not denied the incident but insisted it was ‘consensual’.
Tejpal, who was sharing the cell with frog and turtle poachers, was today lodged with two murder accused and two drug traffickers.
