(Image source from: Should Tarun Tejpal be tried?})

Tehelka, the Indian weekly journal that once put 'sting operation' in vogue, is now mortified by transgressions at its own door that has left the entire journalistic fraternity aghast.

Ever since the news of Tarun Tejpal, the editor-in-chief of the weekly, sexually assaulting his journalist colleague hit the air, the man has been at the receiving end of a national outrage with the press, politicians, media, women commissions and keepers of law seeking immediate action against him.

What's more outrageous about the whole episode is the manner in which Tehelka has tried to cover up Mr. Tejpal's shocking and recurring episode of sexual assault and let him free with just 6 months of atonement.

On 20th November Tehelka's managing editor Shoma Chaudhury emailed her employees, containing an appended letter from the magazine's maverick founder & editor in chief Tarun Tejpawhere he offered to 'recuse' himself 'from the editorship of Tehelka, for the next six months', 'having 'squarely' taken blame for a 'bad lapse of judgment, an awful misreading of the situation' that lead to 'an unfortunate incident' concerning a female journalist, that purportedly railed against all that Tehelka believed in and fought for.

"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." Tejpal wrote in his correspondence to Chaudhury who forwarded his email to employees saying Tejpal's decision was in keeping with the magazine's 'stated principal and collective values' of responding with 'right thought and action'. Chaudhury also asked her colleagues to 'stand by the institution' in what was a 'hard time for all of us'.

Lashing back, Justice (Retd.) Usha Mehra said Tarun Tejpal shouldn't be allowed to get away with it and must be tried.

“The grave charge of sexual harassment and rape is not a matter of personal atonement but Tejpal must be tried for the same under the law,” Justice Mehra said.

Goa police has already launched a preliminary inquiry. Based on the testimonies, corroborative evidence, and investigation, the police will decide if an FIR must be booked against Tejpal.

The Tehelka editor-in-chief stepped down from his post on Wednesday after a junior woman colleague's serious charges of sexual misconduct went public.

AW: Suchorita Dutta Choudhury