Hyderabad: Congress leader Manish Tewari raked up Tehelka founder Tarun Tejpal's introduction to Animal Farm in a Twitter post. His tweet lauded Tejpal who was acquitted by Goa court in a rape case that rocked society. War of words erupted after Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chatturvedi took notice of it and tweeted.
"I have a right to opinion as much as you have a right to pat the back of an alleged rapist," responded Chaturvedi to Tewari. In the heated argument, the Congress leader even asked Chaturvedi not to cross the line of libel and defamation.
"My college Senior the much-maligned, hugely politically persecuted &now honourably exonerated the brilliant & mercurial Tarun Tejpal has written this teaser of his new book Animal Farm. Tarun at his evocative & provocative best. Welcome back friend,"read Tewari's first tweet on Tejpal.
"Today I got to know that Tarun Tejpal was ‘honorably exonerated’ and ‘politically persecuted’. To rubbish a woman’s sexual assault by this cosy club, smacks of their sick mindset. They believe they can behave as they wish around women and laugh off the serious crime. Shameful," wrote Chaturvedi in her Twitter handle.
"Unlike you @priyankac19 as a lawyer I know how to read a judgment and respect it. Tarun Tejpal was tried and found innocent. That is the cold hard fact. Goa Government has gone to High Court. If you have a problem say what you have too in the High Court of Mumbai & Goa," responded Tewari.
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"Unlike you @manishtewari just being a lawyer and ability to read a judgement does not put you on a higher plain. Also this is a free platform I have a right to opinion as much as you have a right to pat the back of an alleged rapist," tweeted Chaturvedi.
"It actually does @priyankac19. It makes me acutely conscious about respecting rule of law & judgments delivered by Courts established under our Constitution. Please do not cross the line of libel & defamation. I would be anguished to take a fellow MP & former Colleague to Court," said Tewari.
"Ooh! Threat to silence. Typical. As a lawyer should realise my first tweet wasn’t even tagged or marked to you, you chose to jump in and I responded in kind," replied Chaturvedi.
Other Twitter users also joined the debate and Tewari reiterated his counter of defamation. Tejpal was acquited by Goa court in May in connection with a rape case.
Commenting on the acquittal of former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal by a trial court in May this year, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta on Tuesday said that the acquittal was reflective of the manner in which the institution of the judiciary had failed. The acquittal, Mehta said, would deter potential victims of sexual assault from approaching courts for justice.
Mehta made the comments during a hearing in connection with an appeal filed by the Goa government against the acquittal of Tejpal by a Goa trial court, which was hearing the rape case filed by the former journalist's junior colleague in 2013. The High Court which is hearing the appeal, has scheduled the next hearing for August 31.
