Friday, 26 December 2014 – 8:40pm IST | Agency: dna webdesk

Looks like more trouble is brewing for former Tehelka editor, Tarun Tejpal. Eminent journalist Vinod Mehta in his new book has reportedly written about Tejpal’s possible non- consensual sexual relations during his time in Outlook. This has created a storm on social media and many journalists are coming out with veiled responses which seem to indicate there may be some iota of truth in Mehta’s claims.

Vinod Mehta’s book, Editor Unplugged is due to release shortly. Like his past memoir, in this book too, Mehta has given a ringside view to the inner workings of the newsroom with special mention to various noteworthy controversies like the Nira Radia case etc. On Friday, journalist Aman Sethi tweeted a page from the new book which says that all Vinod knew was that Tejpal used his official position to hit on interns and juniors. But the damning bit is about a reference to presumably non-consensual relationships. However, Vinod Mehta never started any probe into these supposed shenanigans as no official complaint was ever lodged, he says.

tej

Vinod Mehta even has a reasoning for Tarun Tejpal’s ‘alleged manic libido’. He quotes author William Dalrymple to have reportedly said that Tejpal had an ‘excessively charming sexual aura which women find difficult to resist’. However, just after the controversy broke, Dalrymple has tweeted to promptly deny ever saying something like that.

I’ve never said the quote attributed to me in Vinod Mehta’s book &have asked for it be deleted from future editions. https://www.evernote.com/shard/s350/sh/62d2cde0-7cfd-4a4e-85cb-9e723d27237d/35e3ab0dd12f744d96bddeebb87e212c 

However, various journalists tweeted, tacitly implying that there may be some fire in all the smoke generated.

@amishra77 shameful as, like your party leader Modi, Vinod chose to ignore such reports about a subordinate. You should quit BJP in protest.

@mihirssharma not an isolated case I was on the Outlook sexual harassment committee &could tell you horror stories about post-tejpal era

More on Tejpal saga RT @shabanais @krupakar_m @Amannama I worked unfortunately in Outlook. This sounds all too familiar. Cant say more here.

However, neither Tejpal nor Mehta has so far commented on this controversy. Tejpal’s image, already much sullied in the public eye, will take a further hit if Mehta has indeed written anything incriminating in his book.

Accused of raping one of his juniors at the Think Fest in Goa last year, Tarun Tejpal is currently out on bail, mostly ostracised by media and the civil society alike.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-will-vinod-mehta-s-book-become-the-last-nail-for-tarun-tejpal-2047244