Managing Editor of Tehelka, Shoma Chaudhury has resigned amid allegations against her for trying to cover up the alleged sexual assualt of a woman journalist by Tehelka Editor, Tarun Tejpal. In a letter to her colleagues today, Shoma said, she did not want questions raised about her integrity to tarnish the image of the magazine. She rejected the allegations of a cover-up, saying that in no way, could the first actions that were taken, be deemed as suppression of any kind.

Reacting to Shoma Chaudhury's resignation, Member of National Commission for Women, Nirmala Samant said, Shoma's statements were not supportive and she is guilty of supressing the evidence, which is an offence under the Indian Penal Code.

BJP leader Siddharth Nath Singh said, Shoma Chaudhury’s resignation has come late. He said, she should have resigned long time back.

Meanwhile Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal has sought more time to appear before the Goa police in connection with the sexual assault allegation against him. Tejpal has written a letter to Goa Police, saying he will appear before it on Saturday afternoon. He said in his letter that he is ready to cooperate with the Police in the investigation. His lawyer Sandeep Kapur said that they are not planning to move the Supreme Court for any relief.

Goa Police had asked Tejpal to appear before it by 3 pm today. The move follows the recording of the statement by the victim, a former woman journalist of Tehelka, before a Goa court. She was allegedly sexually assaulted in a lift in a five-star hotel in Goa earlier this month.