Panaji, May 7 (TNN): American actor Robert de Niro has replied to crime branch on queries regarding the rape charges leveled against Tehelka founder editor Tarun Tejpal.
De Niro said in his email that the rape survivor did not confide in him about the incident.
Crime branch is investigating the rape charges leveled against Tejpal by a junior employee of Tehelka, who accused Tejpal of raping her during an event held at a starred hotel in Goa in November last year.
The American actor was a guest at the event organized by Tehelka and was escorted by the survivor during his stay in Goa.
While he admitted in his email that the survivor was escorting him, his email says nothing about the survivor opening up to him about the rape incident.
A crime branch official said they had sent a detailed questionnaire to the actor to determine where he had stayed, who had escorted him and if he had learnt about the alleged rape from the survivor.
Niro's email says that the survivor escorted him to sightseeing and shopping trips but he had no contact with her after he left Goa via a private plane, after the event.
He also said he had no contact with Tejpal after the event but had received a thank you note from him. De Niro said in the email that he learnt about the criminal allegations against Tejpal from a third party.
Crime branch is unsure, at this stage, on whether to summon the American actor for a deposition.