MJ Akbar, Tarun Tejpal  suspended from Editors’ Guild

The Editors’ Guild of India (EGI) on Wednesday suspended membership of the journalist-turned-politician MJ Akbar until he is cleared of sexual misconduct charges levelled against him by a number of women journalists.

"Office-bearers of the Guild took a decision on the matter. It has concurred with the majority view that Mr Akbar should be suspended from the Guild till such time that the court case he has filed is concluded," a statement issued by the journalists' body read.

The Guild took a similar decision against former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal, who has been jailed on rape charges. His membership has been suspended until the conclusion of his trial.

Founding editor of DNA Mumbai and former executive editor of the Times of India Gautam Adhikari's name also featured in the meeting. The committee has written a letter to Adhikari, seeking a formal response to the charges against him.

“EGI had sought the views of its Executive Committee on what action should be taken against Mr M.J. Akbar, a dormant member at present and one of its past presidents, Mr Tarun Tejpal and Mr Gautam Adhikari in light of the charges of sexual misconduct levelled against them by several women journalists. Mr Akbar’s lawyer‘s response to the Guild’s show-cause notice was also shared with the EC,” the statement read.