TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The special Crime Branch team, which is investigating the Tarun Tejpal case, is likely to approach Hollywood actor Robert De Niro as a ‘witness’ in the sensational episode.
As part of the investigation, which is in progress, the Crime Branch has recorded statements of more witnesses from Mumbai and Delhi who had attended the Think Fest at the hotel where the alleged incident happened on November 7-8.
De Niro was put up in a VIP suite close to the lift where Tehelka’s founder editor Tejpal allegedly sexually assaulted his colleague. The CB has now decided that not a single person should be left out of the investigation in a bid to put up a strong criminal case against the 50-year-old journalist.
“We will approach him although he may not be a crucial witness. His name figured in the FIR copy because of his physical proximity to the scene of crime. The woman journalist had also mentioned in an email complaint to Tehelka (former) managing editor Shoma Chaudhury that Tejpal used meeting De Niro as an excuse for luring her into the lift,” said an offcier seeking anonymity.
