Tehelka case: Tejpal seeks in-camera hearing of bail plea

Panaji: Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal, accused of sexually assaulting a woman journalist, today filed an application before a local court demanding an in-camera hearing of his bail petition.

Tejpal`s lawyer moved the application for in-camera hearing before the district and sessions court when the case was on board for arguments on his bail plea. The arguments on his petition asking for an in-camera hearing were heard today and the court will announce its verdict tomorrow. The court will subsequently hear his bail petition. 50-year-old Tejpal, accused of sexually assaulting a former junior woman colleague in a hotel here in early November, was arrested by Goa Police on November 30. He has been booked under IPC sections including 354-A (sexual harassment, physical contact, advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures, or any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature), 376 (rape) and 376 (2)(k) (rape by a person of a woman in his custody taking advantage of his official position). The journalist is currently lodged in Sada sub-jail. A local court had on December 23 extended the judicial custody of Tejpal for 12 days after his initial custody expired. His lawyers had also moved a petition before the district court seeking his bail stating that "the accused has not been questioned by police since he was lodged in the judicial custody".