Tarun Tejpal's facilities in jail curtailed, can't meet family members

Panaji, Feb 27: The facilities extended to Tehelka founder editor Tarun Tejpal in the Sada sub jail have been curtailed, including the facility to meet family members, after a mobile phone was allegedly found in his possession.

The administration of Sada Sub jail, located 40 kms from here, in an order has curtailed liberty of Tejpal to meet his family members and also using the telephone. These facilities are extended to all the prisoners of the sub jail.

The order curtailing the facility to meet family members and using the telephone was issued on Monday, soon after a mobile phone was found in possession of Tejpal, sub divisional magistrate Gaurish Shankhwalkar told PTI.

The prison officials during a routine check had found seven mobiles in the jail, including one under the bedding used by Tejpal.

The authorities later filed a formal complaint with Mormugao police against him. Shankwalkar said the facility of meeting family members is extended to the prisoners after they furnish a list of whom they want to meet. They can meet them twice a week on Tuesday and Friday between 3 to 5.30 PM.

Replying to a question, Shankhwalkar said Tejpal's lawyer can meet his client whenever he wants. The 50-year-old journalist has been behind bars for allegedly raping a junior woman colleague during an event in Goa in November last year.

The Goa Crime branch has already filed a charge sheet against Tejpal for rape, outraging modesty and sexual harassment of a woman journalist. Tejpal has filed a petition seeking bail before Goa bench of Bombay High Court, which would be heard on March 4.

PTI