Demands for a quick probe into the incident that happened in a lift in a five star hotel in Goa about 10 days ago mounted with journalist bodies asking for prosecution into the allegations of "grave sexual assault".
"There ought not to be any attempt to cover up or play down this extremely serious incident," the Editors Guild said in a statement.
Tehelka's Managing Editor Shoma Chaudhury, to whom Tejpal last night wrote saying he was "recusing" from work for 6 months admitting to "bad lapse of judgement", and the magazine came under attack for maintaining that it was an internal issue.
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who conferred with top police officials, ordered a preliminary probe after prima facie opinion that there seems to be substance in the letter written by the victim to her office.
The case was handed over to the Crime Branch of police which has got the footage of the Close Circuit Television in the hotel, DIG O P Mishra said. They have also sought the copy of the complaint filed by the girl from Tehelka.
Probably the incident took place in the lift, the Chief Minister said, adding the victim's letter indicates that there was an attempt to rape.
Women activists and journalist attacked Chaudhury's claim that it was an internal matter and demanded that law take its course as it was a matter of crime.