Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday said the state will "go after the culprit" in the case of alleged sexual assault of a Tehelka journalist by its Editor Tarun Tejpal as the crime involves severe punishment.
"I have told the police no pressure whosoever it may be. Crime is a crime. You go after the culprit," he told reporters on a day the Goa Police filed an FIR against Tejpal on rape charge.
"I have given complete authority to the police to investigate the case. I have told them don't worry whether the person is low profile or high profile. Stature does not count. What counts is the crime. You go by what is correct in law," the Chief Minister said.
He said prima facie, it appears that "some thing has happened which is not right like physical intrusion and rape-like situation."
Asked about the possibility of Tejpal's arrest, he said, "If he cooperates, they (police) can take a different decision for some time at least but the crime involves severe punishment."
Asked about BJP leader Arun Jaitley's comment critical of Congress leaders for not making their comments on Tejpal issue, the CM said, "I don't see a criminal from political angle. If he has done a crime, he has to pay for it."
