Tehelka case: Tarun Tejpal sent to police custody - 10 latest developments

The arrest of the 50-year-old came ten days after it became public that he had allegedly sexually assaulted a junior colleague during an event in Goa earlier this month.

Tejpal's wife, daughter, brother and his friend Sanjay Roy came out of the police outpost once he was placed under arrest. (Live updates)

"The statement of the victim and the documents in the form of emails etc., details of which need not be reproduced here, prima facie indicate that the applicant, who was her mentor and father figure, had not only outraged her modesty but had misused his position, betrayed her trust and violated her body," District and Sessions Anuja Prabhudesai observed in her 25-page order. (Read)

The court also rejected the defence contention that the case against Tejpal was politically motivated or that anti-rape laws were "draconian".

The judge has allowed Mr Tejpal to take the assistance of his lawyer briefly once a day during his interrogation. He will also be allowed to have home-cooked food.

Earlier on Saturday, Mr Tejpal had offered to submit his passport in court to avoid arrest. He was present in court, along with his wife and daughter.

The public prosecutor argued that prima facie a case is established against the Tehelka founder, saying his "immaculate reputation had gone for a toss and being in custody will not dent it any further."

The public prosecutor also said the woman journalist has been consistent with her version, but Mr Tejpal has been "changing colours like a chameleon."

Mr Tejpal is accused of raping the reporter at an annual Tehelka conference in Goa earlier this month. She did not press charges, but detailed her allegations against him to her boss at Tehelka, Shoma Chaudhury, in an email that was leaked. She resigned last week.

The Goa Police used that email to commence its investigation against Mr Tejpal.