*Rejecting allegations of interfering with the probe, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday said the state government has a duty to do justice to the girl in the case of alleged sexual assault by Tehelka founder Tarun Tejpal.*
"I am the administrator of the state. As chief minister of the state my job is to ensure justice to the girl...if what she says has legal support to ensure that justice is made out," he told a press conference here.
Manohar Parrikar denied there was any pressure from any quarters on the Goa police investigating the case of the alleged assault by Tejpal on a woman journalist of his office during a Thinkfest organised by his magazine Tehelka earlier this month.
"The state government does not intend to monitor (the case) except asking the police department for a speedy disposal of the case. I have told the police not to take any pressure from any quarters," he said.
On Tejpal's claim that his organisation's sting operation against Bangaru Laxman, who had to resign as BJP president, was one of the reasons behind the Goa police action against him, the chief minister countered, "How does it make any difference in the crime committed by him, if he has committed. He himself has said he has resigned for six months. Prima facie a clear case is there. Does Tejpal accept that he is a Congress stooge. First let him explain this."
Parrikar said it would pain one to read what the girl has said in her complaint. "It is not easy for a girl to come out and say these things.
This is the positive outcome of what happened on December 16 (gangrape of a girl in a bus in Delhi). Now girls are coming out very openly without fear."
He said the investigation will take its own course and since it was a sensitive case, he appealed to the media to allow the law enforcement agencies to do proper investigation in a legal way.
Asked whether a fast track court will be set up to try this case, he said there was no need for a such a court in Goa where cases are disposed of quickly.
Parrikar said that the victim has recorded a statement before a magistrate under Section 164 of the CrPC in Goa. Reported by Deccan Herald 15 minutes ago.
"I am the administrator of the state. As chief minister of the state my job is to ensure justice to the girl...if what she says has legal support to ensure that justice is made out," he told a press conference here.
Manohar Parrikar denied there was any pressure from any quarters on the Goa police investigating the case of the alleged assault by Tejpal on a woman journalist of his office during a Thinkfest organised by his magazine Tehelka earlier this month.
"The state government does not intend to monitor (the case) except asking the police department for a speedy disposal of the case. I have told the police not to take any pressure from any quarters," he said.
On Tejpal's claim that his organisation's sting operation against Bangaru Laxman, who had to resign as BJP president, was one of the reasons behind the Goa police action against him, the chief minister countered, "How does it make any difference in the crime committed by him, if he has committed. He himself has said he has resigned for six months. Prima facie a clear case is there. Does Tejpal accept that he is a Congress stooge. First let him explain this."
Parrikar said it would pain one to read what the girl has said in her complaint. "It is not easy for a girl to come out and say these things.
This is the positive outcome of what happened on December 16 (gangrape of a girl in a bus in Delhi). Now girls are coming out very openly without fear."
He said the investigation will take its own course and since it was a sensitive case, he appealed to the media to allow the law enforcement agencies to do proper investigation in a legal way.
Asked whether a fast track court will be set up to try this case, he said there was no need for a such a court in Goa where cases are disposed of quickly.
Parrikar said that the victim has recorded a statement before a magistrate under Section 164 of the CrPC in Goa. Reported by Deccan Herald 15 minutes ago.