Panjim, November 30
Tehelka’s former Editor-in-Chief Tarun Tejpal, accused of sexually assaulting a junior colleague, was arrested on Saturday after a court rejected his anticipatory bail application. The 50-year-old Tehelka founder was formally taken into custody at the Crime Branch headquarters in Dona Paula soon after the verdict was announced.

The much-delayed order on Tejpal's bail plead was pronounced around 8 pm by District and Sessions Judge Anuja Prabhudessai.

Tejpal's wife, daughter, brother and his friend Sanjay Roy came out of the police outpost once he was placed under arrest. He will be taken for mandatory medical test.

The whole episode came to light on November 20 with Tejpal accepting "misconduct" against the journalist and offered to recuse himself from the post and the office for six months.

Since then, he has made flip-flops, claiming it was a consensual act and virtually questioning the integrity of the woman journalist who had alleged that he attempted sexual assault on her twice in a lift in a five-star hotel in Goa.

Judge Prabhudesai passed the order dismissing Tejpal's plea for relief after hearing the arguments of the prosecution and the defence.

The prosecution strongly opposed the bail plea saying custodial interrogation of Tejpal was required because prima facie a case of rape has been made out against him. The judge, however, allowed Tejpal to take the assistance of his lawyer briefly once a day, if he wants, during interrogation. He will also be allowed to have home-cooked food.

Tejpal's lawyer Geeta Luthra said they will not be challenging the session court's order right now. The Goa Police have filed an FIR slapping charges of rape, custodial rape and outraging the modesty of a woman. If convicted, Tejpal faces a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life sentence in jail. — PTI