The GOA Police has summoned the founder-editor of Tehelka magazine, Tarun Tejpal, for questioning Thursday in connection with allegations that he sexually assaulted a colleague as the state government vehemently opposed his plea for anticipatory bail saying the veteran journalist had failed all tests for such bail.

Justice Sunita Gupta of the Delhi High Court, after hearing arguments by both sides over his bail plea, said she would rule on the petition Friday.

Goa government counsel V Madhukar said Tejpal has been asked to appear before the Goa Police by 3 pm Thursday. The summons were issued Wednesday evening after the statement of his colleague was recorded before a magistrate in Goa under section 164 CrPC.

Earlier, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for the Goa government in the bail plea hearing in the Delhi High Court, labeled Tejpal a "coward" for "going underground" after he was accused of sexually assaulting a young colleague.

Tejpal sought anticipatory bail Tuesday claiming the rape allegation was a "figment of the imagination" and a result of the "wrath of vengeance" of Goa's BJP government for the exposes published in his magazine.

"This is as between a man married with a family dealing with an employee who is a friend of his daughter and whom he has known as a child...is this not depravity of the highest order?" asked Rohatgi.

"The position of dominance, position to manipulate job is ex-facie evident."

Alleging that there was "admission of guilt" by Tejpal "in the email and here," Rohatgi told the court that Tejpal had failed all tests laid down by the courts for grant of anticipatory bail.

Arguing in a courtroom packed with journalists and lawyers, Rohatgi also said that as the alleged incident had occurred in Goa, the FIR registered there and the investigation being conducted there, the Delhi High Court did not have jurisdiction to try the case.

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