Panaji : Moral police outfit Sri Rama Sene (SRS) Wednesday presented a copy of the Bhagwad Gita to Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal, claiming the book would help bring about a “change in mental attitude and morality of Tejpal”.
Incidentally, investigative weekly Tehelka in 2010 exposed the Karnataka-based SRS for charging money to start riots.
Addressing a press conference in Panaji, SRS vice president Kumar Hakeri said a copy of the Bhagwad Gita was presented to the jail authorities to be handed over to Tejpal.
“Sri Ram Sene has decided to present Tejpal, through the jail officers, a copy of Shrimad Bhagwad Gita to teach him the importance of Hindu culture. SRS feels by reading it, there will be a change in Tejpal’s mental attitude and morality,” Hakeri said.
SRS, led by Pramod Muthalik, gained notoriety Jan 24, 2009, after storming into a Mangalore pub “Amnesia – The Lounge” and beating up young men and women, claiming the women were violating traditional Indian values.
“This act of inappropriate behaviour with a woman, as young as his daughter, on the part of Tejpal, under the influence of western culture signifies his immorality and lack of character,” Hakeri said.
Tejpal was arrested Nov 30 after a junior employee accused him of sexually assaulting her twice in a five-star hotel’s elevator in the Goa capital during Thinkfest, an event organised by the magazine Nov 7 and 8.