New Delhi: Two MPs of alliance partners Congress and Shiv Sena slugged it out on Twitter Friday over former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal, who was acquitted this May of sexual assault charges.
Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, a former Congress leader, and Congress MP Manish Tewari got into a war of words after the latter sought to plug a “new book” by Tejpal.
In his tweet, Tewari referred to Tejpal as “my college senior the much maligned, hugely politically persecuted & now honourably exonerated”.
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
Do Read??https://t.co/VMaxcn8YlB— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) September 3, 2021
Chaturvedi immediately hit back. Without either retweeting Tewari or naming him, she quoted parts of his tweet to say the rubbishing of “a woman’s sexual assault by this cosy club, smacks of their sick mindset”.
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.
— Priyanka Chaturvedi?? (@priyankac19) September 3, 2021
She further said Tejpal’s acquittal has been challenged, so “the celebration of exoneration could hold”. Chaturvedi commended the “young lady” who filed the case against Tejpal for having the “courage to take such powerful clique head on”.
Just for the record Goa government has challenged this district court verdict in the Mumbai High Court. So the celebration on exoneration can hold.
More power to the young lady who had the courage to take such powerful clique head on. https://t.co/g8faBSf1i8— Priyanka Chaturvedi?? (@priyankac19) September 3, 2021
A war of words ensued between the two MPs, which included Tewari warning Chaturvedi against crossing “the line of libel and defamation”, saying he would be “anguished to take a fellow MP & former colleague to court”.
In 2013, Tejpal was accused by a junior colleague of sexually assaulting her at a Tehelka event in Goa. In May this year, a sessions court in Goa acquitted Tejpal, but the Goa government subsequently filed an appeal in the High Court of Bombay at Goa.
War of words
Reacting to Chaturvedi’s criticism, Tewari, a lawyer, said he knew how to read a judgment and respect it, “unlike you”. If there was “a problem”, “say what you have too in the High Court of Mumbai & Goa (sic)”.
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. https://t.co/c0TMKWBUod
— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) September 3, 2021
Chaturvedi said reading the judgement did not put Tewari on a higher moral ground, adding that she had the “right to opinion” as much as he had a right to “pat the back of an alleged rapist”.
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. https://t.co/ACv2RAIc8c
— Priyanka Chaturvedi?? (@priyankac19) September 3, 2021
That is when Tewari brought up “libel and defamation”.
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. https://t.co/vGNDt1XNpB
— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) September 3, 2021
The duo then then got into the intricacies of libel and defamation. When Chaturvedi said she had not named Tewari, he replied a mere implication was enough.
Chaturvedi made one final tweet before saying she refused to engage any further.
“Ignorance of law is better than ignorance of morality. For the former one can have lawyers, the latter unfortunately can’t be taught, is ingrained.”
Ignorance of law is better than ignorance of morality. For the former one can has lawyers, the latter unfortunately can’t be taught, is ingrained. EOD, refuse to engage.
— Priyanka Chaturvedi?? (@priyankac19) September 3, 2021
Tewari was the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and said at the time that the law should take its own course.
“The alleged incident is unfortunate. There is a legal process that is playing itself out. It should be allowed to reach a logical conclusion. It is incumbent upon all concerned to cooperate with legal processes and procedures,” Tewari is reported to have said.
(Edited by Sunanda Ranjan)
Also Read: Victim’s evasive answers, lack of medical evidence — why Goa court acquitted Tarun Tejpal