Tejpal’s police custody extended till December 10

Tehelka founder-editor Tarun Tejpal, accused of sexually assaulting a journalist woman colleague, will remain in custody of Goa Police for four more days.

After the expiry of his six-day remand on Saturday, the 50-year-old journalist was produced before a local court, which extended his police custody till December 10, 2013.

Mr. Tejpal was arrested by Goa Police last Saturday.

During arguments before Judicial Magistrate First Class Kshama Joshi, his counsel Sandip Kapoor opposed extension of the remand.

He said his client has been thoroughly interrogated by police and relevant materials besides the clothes which he wore on the day of alleged incident have been recovered.

Public Prosecutor Saresh Lotlikar told the court that many witnesses were yet to be examined and hence further custody of Mr. Tejpal is required.

The Tehelka founder underwent two rounds of medical tests during his six-day custody.

Three colleagues of the Tehelka woman journalist, who has since resigned from the magazine, deposed before the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Panaji on Friday. The victim had confided in them about the alleged sexual assault.

The statement of Shoma Chaudhury, former Managing Editor of the magazine to whom the victim had written about the incident, is also to be recorded by the magistrate.