Panaji:
A Goa court today took cognizance of the petition filed yesterday by Tehelka founder Tarun Tejpal and decided to hand over to him CCTV footage of the alleged sexual assault in which he was involved.
The Goa police had submitted the footage, along with the chargesheet, to the court on Monday. He was accused of raping his colleague, and the police claimed they had enough proof to implicate him in the case. The footage will now be released to Mr Tejpal and the prosecution later today.
Mr Tejpal, 50, cried foul when the Goa police refused to offer him the footage of the alleged sexual assault in a local five star hotel, and alleged that the state BJP government was out to fix him as part of a "political vendetta."
"Goa police chargesheet is simply political vendetta. There is absolutely no truth in any of the charges against me. There is hundred per cent chance I will be found innocent," Mr Tejpal told NDTV yesterday after he was produced in the Goa bench of the Mumbai High Court for the hearing on his bail petition. "The only truth is the CCTV footage which the police are not releasing," he added.
The court deferred the hearing on his bail plea till March 4 after Mr Tejpal's counsel sought some time to draft their reply to the chargesheet filed by the local police.
The senior journalist also denied that he had admitted to the crime. "That's total rubbish. I never admitted in emails," Mr Tejpal said.
The police, in its chargesheet filed in the Goa court on Monday, cited proof that Mr Tejpal "admitted commission of rape" in documents, including emails to the woman, and other statements.
Mr Tejpal has been charged with rape, unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures and taking advantage of one's official position. If convicted, he faces a maximum of life in prison.