Sri Rama Sene gifts Bhagwad Gita to Tarun Tejpal

Moral police outfit Sri Rama Sene (SRS) on 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 on January 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 on November 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 on November 7 and 8.