Tejpal Case is Hyped

Last week, Indian medias were overwhelmingly filled with the news regarding the sexual molestation by Tarun Tejpal with his junior coworker. The news was matter of shock and astonishment for me as I had met Tejpal in person some years ago when he had attended a literary festival in Patan. The sensation has hit hard in the Indian medias, the reason for this may be due to the number of enemies Tejpal has earned through his powerful magazine that has gained acclaims for reportings of corruption and gender based violence involving sting operations.


A question stands out abruptly regarding the definition of rape and molestation. I am surprised why the term molestation is replaced with rape in Tejpal’s case. After his deeds, he resigned from his post of editor in chief of his magazine. His news magazine Tehelka is also known as harsh critique of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaking the news of corruption and bribery. This also may be the reason why molestation turned out to be rape and the entire accusation seems politically driven.

I am not defending Tejpal for his heinous act but my concern is regarding the sensationalism of news of molestation in workplace. Is this the first time such kind of molestation has happened in an office by an employer upon the female employee? What may be the reason Tejpal is accused of rape case for molesting a coworker in a lift within just four minutes? It’s true that Tejpal misused his position of trust with the girl interestingly becoming the friend of the victim’s father and thus he should be penalized. But my concern is quite different here. Molestation and Rape are like looking and experiencing. One who simply looks over cannot experience.

His six months of leave in order to lacerate himself should not be taken as a matter of his weakness that he realised his crime but should also taken that he apologized his crime with the victim and stepped down. Now his all contributions is forgotten. Tehelka’s coverage of 2002 Gujarat riots and SIMI trials were thought to be great achievements in investigative Indian investigative journalism. His whole achievements, name and fame is at stake now. I mean a person should not judged on a whole rather should be judged in parts or fragments. His act of molestation should be investigated and police should act accordingly.

I guess India gets hundreds of molestation cases in a day but this case has garnered negative sensations. This also proves that an outstanding person who does any single bad act is waited to be judged bitterly. Tehelka means sensational in Hindi. Is it because the paper itself is sensational has been getting over sensational hype for its founder’s acts?