India's Tehelka editor arrested in sexual assault case

PANAJI (AP) - The editor of an Indian magazine known for exposing abuses of power was arrested on Saturday in a sexual assault case that has fueled fresh outrage over the treatment of women in the country, police said.

Police took Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal into custody within an hour of Judge Anuja Prabhudesai rejecting his bail petition, said Sunita Sawant, the police officer investigating the case.

The allegations against Tejpal by a female colleague have touched a nerve in part because he is the face of a publication that has pushed Indian society to vanquish corruption and confront the scourge of sexual violence.

The journalist alleged that Tejpal cornered her in a hotel elevator and assaulted her twice, on November 7 and 8. Formal charges could be filed when the investigation is complete.

Straits Times Singapore: