Yes, Shoma Chaudhury I am the Aggrieved Party!

Shoma Chaudhury the well known face of so called outrageous journalism in India, today is leaving no stone unturned in a never-before-like face saving exercise which is shamelessly continued even after the judgment error confession by the convict.

The way things are unfolding truly shows the duality in the principles of those who have always unanimously scrutinized others on the name of Free, Fair and fearless journalism. When times now correspondent Aditya Raj Kaul asked Tehelka managing editor Shoma Chaudhury that why doesn’t Tarun Tejpal face criminal investigation on serious charge of sexual assault by a female journalist? She hit back with an unimaginable, “Are you the aggrieved party” remark. This comes from the lady who has always taken intrusion in private spaces as a right most granted.

Even in any case that’s the last thing any sane journalist would ever say. Had Shoma forgotten all her voyages she took on the name of outrageous investigative journalism? The lady who always possessed a holier-than-thou attitude has even now kept that thinking shamelessly intact. There is no sign of remorse at all. 

It is amazing to know that she is the same lady who few days back has asked for CBI chief’s resignation over a remark where an analogy by him referred to enjoyment of rape. Now, when her own boss has practically implemented an example of the same volume, she is jumping fences advocating that six month sabbatical as penance is more than enough. Clearly when her own house is on fire, the bandit queen has turned soft-hearted angel of peace.

Shoma Chaudhury is a well known face in corridors of journalism even outside India. In 2011 US magazine Newsweek has featured her in the list of 150 powerful women who can shake the world. Yes, she can and she had, but two years down the line she today comes out as a weak, insensitive, unremorseful lady who has a different yardstick for her own friend and foes and a different one for everyone else. Maybe, that’s what Tehelka always meant by Free and fair motto.
Her ideologies have always offended not one but many, her biased hate-spewing-rhetoric were clearly visible many a times. The journalism she always practiced was not much appreciated even by many of her own fraternity. No doubt she has quite a few remarkable awards in her kitty but her critics fairly outnumber them on any given day. She not only spiced up the stories but has literally cooked them up on occasions.

Shoma Chaudury is second-in-line from the top in Tehelka. It is unquestionable that she isn’t exposed to knowledge of all its resources. How Tehelka manages its high-priced, high-profile yearly event ThinkFest in Goa has always been a matter of question. No doubt how they run this magazine is equally viable one as well. General perception has always branded Tehelka as an unofficial mouthpiece of a leading political party. Now the speculation of Tejpal’s blood relation with a very high profile minister adds to the claim.

In a recent development Tejpal has asked for CBI inquiry in to the matter. I doubt has the views of Shoma Chaudhury for the CBI chief changed overnight, or Tejpal didn’t consult her over the issue. Whatever maybe the reason but there is obviously a different leadership in Goa and centre. Tejpal’s insistence to get case transferred from Goa police to CBI genuinely raises eyebrows. Impeccable Integrity of CBI in recent times is surely beyond doubt!

Ms. Shoma Chaudhury in this case you are going a bit too far as a role of managing-editor in Tehelka. Your job profile as managing editor surely didn’t included managing-for-the-editor. It is high time to realize your mistake and move on to the right side, maybe a six month sabbatical would do for it now. You are losing everything you have earned in these years besides money. As much as Tejpal is concerned howsoever hard you try now, the matter has gone out of your hand and the law would take its course.

And yes as much as your question was concerned, yes I am the aggrieved party in the same way as you and your colleagues have always been, in all these years, in all other cases. 

#Tehelka Abuse CBI Goa Shoma Chaudhury Tejpal Tejpal Sexual Assault Case

Tarun Tejpal sexual assault case- Tehelka’s double standards and A Phony Justice

After brilliantly presenting solutions for many of India’s big problems very decisively, now Tehelka is again out with another solution and this time the prevalent problem they have chosen to deal with is Women Abuse. This time they have gone a little further, they have practically implemented the solution as well. How benevolent!!!

The Editor-in-chief of Tehelka Mr.Tarun Tejpal, who is accused of harassing a journalist (not to forget his very own intelligent confession, with words that suited better for a fiction novel character) has voluntarily decided to step down for atonement. Yes,Yes you heard it right, to be precise he has opted for” SIX month sabbatical for atonement”. Now with a sigh of relief this restores back my faith in humanity. How selfless this man is really!

Tehelka is the same newspaper which did an excellent story on Asaram Bapu Case, titled- “The Saint And His Taint”, maybe the editor-in-chief never read it or was just too mesmerized by the TAINT part!

Tehelka describes itself on its website as “a people’s paper geared to take a stand, to follow the hard investigative story. A fearless paper ready to create opinion, and not just remain a passive vehicle of news.”

How seriously they take their motto is clearly visible by the act; the editor-in-chief himself took a stand, succumbed to the hard part’s desire and now with the team, is creating an opinion that’s fearless from any kind of law.

Actual chronologies of the event as described in the victim’s complaint letter clearly mask-off a man full of lust and mad with power. The victim clearly describes how disgustingly the man whom she held in high regards as a father figure harassed her. Contrarily for the same things Tehelka’s editor-in-chief shamelessly uses the word such as a bad lapse of judgement and an awful reading of the situation.

Mr. Tejpal, flying off in the shields of power you have again misread the situation! Now, you just can’t walk away by scribbling words over a paper.

 According to confidante of the harassed girl “the act happened continuously over a period of time...and despite the girl pleading that she is almost the age of his daughter...She pleaded 'please don't do this'...her 'no' was not accepted...it happened once and it happened the next day.”

My questions to Mr. Tejpal are very simple and clear

Q.1. How common it is to have similar bad lapse of judgement again and again?

Q.2. What was so lustful about the situation in your Goa fest that you misread it not once but twice?

Would the patriarch of the fearless journalism of Tehelka care to answer?

The paradox in this Tehelka case is not singular; the crocodile skin syndrome looks quite widespread. Managing Editor, Shoma Chaudhury, who received this atonement letter, reflects in her views that the justice has been delivered, to be exact she quoted victim as saying that Tejpal’ resignation is more than enough. Sigh! She also called it her internal matter.

As of yet I didn’t even had an idea that beside the purview of our constitution we can also solve crimes as internal matters in India. In that case I would like to point out that every abuser must be also doing some job alongside and would it be enough for them to take rest from it as a punishment.

Ironically enough, Take Rest and Punishment do not look like complimenting each other at all, Maybe tehelka team has some other sanity. Reward would have been a better word for such option.

After raking in example of fast and decisive judgement in Delhi Gang Rape to demoralize the women offenders, India really doesn't need such shameful show of precedent to mar its fight against women safety.

Also Read Write-up Based on Victim's Letter- Mr. Tejpal Preaching Predator of Tehelka. Click:

http://aazaadpanchi.blogspot.in/2013/11/mr-tejpal-preaching-predator-and-hollow.html

*From next week(7/12/13) I am starting with a weekly post that would offer a in-detail, fresh and unbiased perspective over issues and people of importance. Please do come back, read it and offer your invaluable suggestions. Thank You!!!

Saturday Scrutiny

In-depth analysis of facts and figures, that matter

Abuse Goa Satire Shame Tehelka Tejpal Tejpal Sexual Assault Case.