Journalist Tarun Tejpal Charged With Raping Junior Colleague

Charges were framed today in a Goa court against journalist Tarun Tejpal, who is accused of raping a junior colleague four years ago. Mr Tejpal, who was present in court, has been charged with rape, sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of a woman. The court rejected Mr Tejpal's petition to defer framing of charges by a month and also denied him exemption from appearing in person for court proceedings. The former editor of Tehelka magazine has said the allegations against him are "absolutely false" and motivated by "political vendetta" and has appealed in the Bombay High Court that the case be dropped.