Tehelka Managing Editor Shoma Chaudhury resigned on Thursday, after admitting that the sexual assault case against former Editor-in-Chief Tarun Tejpal has damaged the image of all who are associated with the investigative magazine.
In her resignation letter, sent at 6am in the morning, Shoma continued to deny the allegations of a 'cover-up', "Over the past week, I have been accused of an attempt to "cover-up" and for not standing by my feminist positions. While I accept that I could have done many things differently and in a more measured way, I reject the allegations of a cover-up because in no way could the first actions that were taken be deemed suppression of any kind."
Earlier in a TV interview, Shoma had termed the alleged sexual assault by Tejpal on a female colleague as 'an unfortunate incident' for which she received unabated criticism in the media.
In the letter, Shoma also admitted that she could have done more for the victim as the Managing Editor. She justified her stand saying, "I acted on instant outrage and solidarity for our colleague as a woman and co-worker."
After asking Goa Police for an immediate arrest of Tejpal, the State Women's Commission of Goa had demanded an arrest warrant against Shoma for trying to assist Tejpal in getting away with the punishment for the crime.
Nirmala Sawant Prabhavalkar, member National Commission for Women, told ANI, "Shoma must be fearing arrest since anticipatory bail has not be granted to Tejpal even and Goa Women's Commission had also asked for her arrest. Shoma's resignation shows that she doesn't even want to cooperate with the police. Her statements were not supportive "
The woman journalist, who has accused Tejpal of sexually assaulting her, had resigned earlier this week. In her resignation letter she implied that Shoma in her interests to protect the magazine tried to resolve the matter by 'recusing' Tejpal from his position as an Editor-in-Chief for six months.
"I do not want questions raised about my integrity to tarnish the image of Tehelka, which it has done in the past week...There are many readers and colleagues who have believed in me and expressed their faith through this very difficult time. I am deeply grateful to them. I will come in to office to close the issue and do the necessary handovers," Shoma said in her letter.
Following is the full text of her resignation letter:
Dear All,
This has been a damaging time for all associated with Tehelka. Since the devastating allegation was first brought to my notice on 18th November, I have taken a series of actions in response to this complaint.
To my mind, I acted on instant outrage and solidarity for our colleague as a woman and co-worker.
After the first steps to immediately address her expressed needs, the process of setting up the anti-sexual harassment committee was begun. There were only two days to act on the complaint before the story broke in the press.
Post this, things have been misconstrued and have snowballed exponentially in the media, based on half-facts and selective leaks.
In the next stage, once the committee was formed, the law would have taken its course according to the findings and recommendations. Over the past week, I have been accused of an attempt to "cover-up" and for not standing by my feminist positions. While I accept that I could have done many things differently and in a more measured way, I reject the allegations of a cover-up because in no way could the first actions that were taken be deemed suppression of any kind.
As for my feminist positions, I believe I acted in consonance with them by giving my colleague's account precedence over everything else.
However, despite this, as a result of what's transpired over the past few days my integrity has repeatedly been questioned by people from our fraternity and, in fact, by the public at large.
I would like to take cognizance of this. I have worked hard for Tehelka for many years and what we have stood for is very dear to me and I hold it in high esteem. I do not want questions raised about my integrity to tarnish the image of Tehelka, which it has done in the past week.
Therefore, I resign as Managing Editor with immediate effect. There are many readers and colleagues who have believed in me and expressed their faith through this very difficult time. I am deeply grateful to them. I will come in to office to close the issue and do the necessary handovers.
I cannot express how painful this is for me. It has never been a part of me to give up midway through a challenge. I would have liked to continue at Tehelka to see us through this dark time, but I am no longer sure whether my presence is harming or helping Tehelka.
I deeply regret any inadequacies or lack of clarity I may have displayed in my leadership.
Shoma
