Goa police seeks non-bailable warrant against Tejpal

www.mangaloretoday.com

Panaji, Nov 28, 2013: Moving towards an imminent arrest, the Goa police today approached a local court for issuing a non-bailable warrant against Tarun Tejpal, who is accused of sexual assault against a woman journalist colleague, after he failed to appear before police.

Tejpal, whose request for extension of time for appearance by 3 PM before the Investigating Officer (IO) was rejected today, has now told Goa police that he will appear before them tomorrow in the investigations, his lawyer Sandeep Kapur, said in Delhi in the evening.

On a day of dramatic developments when earlier reports spoke of Tejpal producing himself before the Goa police by the 3 PM deadline, he changed strategy and sought extension of time.

But in the Delhi High Court he sought withdrawal of his petition seeking anticipatory bail saying he would move the appropriate court for appropriate remedy.

The dice was loaded against the founding Editor of the magazine when two hours after the 3 PM deadline passed and he failed to appear before the police, DIG O P Mishra said the IO has not accepted his request for extension "in view of the seriousness of the crime and is further proceeding in this case as per law empowered."

Asked whether the NBW was an option before the police, he said, "these are logical steps that we are required to follow.  I cannot divulge to you each and every step of investigation."

When pressed whether arrest was being thought of, he shot back, "there should be no doubt that the next logical steps is that.  The IO is proceeding as per logical and legal protocol."

Police sources said the crime branch has moved a judicial first class magistrate for issuing of an NBW with which Tejpal could be arrested.

Without specifically saying whether a non-bailable warrant has been issued against Tejpal, DIG O P Mishra said "whatever logical and legal step as empowered by law has already been initiated".

The Goa police statement came two hours after Tejpal, accused of sexual assault of a woman journalist colleague of his in Goa earlier this month, chose not to appear before the IO and instead sought time till Saturday for the purpose.

"Keeping in view the seriousness of the offence, the Investigating Officer (IO) has not accepted his (Tejpal’s) request (for more time) to appear before her," he said.
"The IO is now proceeding in the case as per law.  All other formalities will follow.  We will do them without any loss of time," he said without disclosing what the step was.

Asked whether a non-bailable warrant of arrest was being issued or whether he would be arrested, Mishra said, "it has serious implications and as per law empowered, we are proceeding without any further delay".

Mishra said the notice asking Tejpal to appear before the IO by 3 PM today  was duly served and was received by the family.  But around 12 noon today, a lawyer for Tejpal served a letter to the crime branch police seeking an extension of time for appearance by Saturday since he was not in Goa.

He said when the deadline of 3 PM was for Tejpal’s appearance today the police took into account the journey time from Delhi to Panaji.

Mishra said the IO took into account all the factors before deciding on not accepting Tejpal’s request for extension of time.