Tehelka shock: Tarun Tejpal steps down on charges of sexual harassment

New Delhi, Nov 20: In a shocking incident on Wednesday, Tarun Tejpal, the Editor of the news giant Tehelka, has "removed himself" from the position for a period of 6 months.

Tarun has recused himself for six months as the Editor-in-Chief of Tehelka, after what is being described, in an official statement, as 'an incident with a journalist'.

In an e-mail sent to the weekly magazine's Managing Editor, Shoma Chaudhury, Mr Tejpal wrote: "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."

He added, "I feel atonement cannot be just words. I must do the penance that lacerates me. I am therefore offering to recuse myself from the editorship of Tehelka, and from the Tehelka office, for the next six months."

Forwarding Tejpal's mail to Tehelka's employees this evening, Ms Chaudhury wrote: "There has been an untoward incident, and though he has extended an unconditional apology to the colleague involved, Tarun will be recusing himself as the editor of Tehelka for the next six months."

When NDTV asked about the matter to Shoma, she said, "This is an internal matter. The journalist concerned is satisfied with the action taken. Tarun Tejpal's recusing himself is in keeping with the principles of right response and standards that we want to live by."

OneIndia News