New Delhi: The Editors Guild of India on Wednesday suspended the memberships of former union minister M J Akbar and ex-Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal over allegations of sexual misconduct.
The Guild had sought the views of its Executive Committee (EC) on what action should be taken against Akbar, a dormant member at present and one of its past presidents, Tejpal and senior journalist Gautam Adhikari "in light of sexual misconduct allegations levelled against them", a statement said.
A majority of the EC members suggested that Akbar and Tejpal's memberships be suspended. Office-bearers of the Guild discussed the EC's comments and concurred with the view that Akbar and Tejpal should be suspended from the Guild, it said.
The Guild decided it would seek Adhikari's response before deciding on his membership.
Akbar resigned as Union minister on October 17 after his name cropped up on the social media when he was in Nigeria, as the #MeToo campaign raged on in India.
His former woman colleague Priya Ramani has accused Akbar of sexual misconduct around 20 years ago, which was denied by him.
Multiple women have come out with accounts of alleged sexual harassment by him while he was working as a journalist.
He had termed the allegations "false, fabricated and deeply distressing" and said he was taking appropriate legal action against them.
Tejpal was accused of sexually assaulting a junior female colleague in the elevator of a hotel in north Goa during an event in November 2013.
