The Goa government on Tuesday has moved the Supreme Court seeking enhancement of the 10-year prison sentence awarded to former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal in the 2013 rape case. Now, why is the State government hell-bent on seeking a lifer for Tejpal in the 2013 sexual assault case? Is it because in March 2001, the news magazine 'Tehelka' (which was then owned by Tejpal) had conducted Operation West End, (a major sting that had exposed high-ranking military officials and Bharatiya Janata Party's politicians accepting bribes involving fictitious defence deal) and which had later led to the resignation of the then BJP President Bangaru Laxman and Defence Minister George Fernandes? And also because he had done many other sting operations in the past and had exposed the misdeeds of many top BJP leaders (which include the role of Narendra Modi in the 2002 Gujarat riots) at the Centre? I hope that the State government will display similar enthusiasm in pursuing all other rape cases, and especially the case of BJP councillor's son Soham Naik who has been accused of allegedly sexually assaulting a number of minor girls and filming these acts.
JERRY FERNANDES, Saligao
