Mr Tejpal, 50, was accused by his younger colleague of sexually assaulting her at a 5-star hotel in Goa during Tehelka's ThinkFest in November.
A day after Goa Police said they had enough proof to charge him with raping his colleague, Tehelka founder Tarun Tejpal rubbished the chargesheet, arguing that it was a part of "political vendetta."
"Goa police chargesheet is simply political vendetta. There is absolutely no truth in any of the charges against me. There is hundred per cent chance I will be found innocent," Mr Tejpal, 50, told NDTV after he was produced in the Goa bench of the Mumbai High Court for the hearing on his bail petition. "The only truth is the CCTV footage which the police are not releasing," he added.
The Court deferred the hearing on his bail plea till March 4 after Mr Tejpal's counsel sought some time to draft their reply to the chargesheet filed by the local police.
The senior journalist also denied that he had admitted to his crime. "That's total rubbish. I never admitted in emails," Mr Tejpal said.
The Goa police had yesterday formally charged the Tehelka founder with raping his colleague and said there is enough proof that he admitted to the crime.
The police, in its chargesheet, cited proof that Mr Tejpal "admitted commission of rape" in documents, including emails to the woman, and other statements.
Mr Tejpal has been charged with rape, unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures and taking advantage of one's official position. If convicted, he faces a maximum of life in prison.
Mr Tejpal, 50, was accused by his younger colleague of sexually assaulting her at a 5-star hotel in Goa during Tehelka's ThinkFest in November. After a series of emails between the woman, Mr Tejpal and the magazine's managing editor Shoma Chaudhury were leaked, the senior editor was arrested on November 30.
The charge-sheet runs into over 2,800 pages and includes the statements of 152 witnesses, including the journalist and other staff of the Tehelka magazine.