The Centre today refused to be drawn into the issue of a woman journalist levelling allegations of "misconduct" against Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal.

“It’s a very sensitive issue. After scrutinising every detail regarding the Tarun Tejpal issue and if there is any reaction to be given in that issue then we will definitely give our reaction,” Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari told reporters at the IFFI venue in Goa.

“Since yesterday, we have been seeing this issue on TV. Therefore, after going into the details, we will give our reaction,” he added.

Accepting “misconduct” against a woman journalist, Tejpal yesterday offered to recuse himself from the post and the office for six months.

In a letter to Managing Editor of Tehelka Shoma Chaudhury, Tejpal had said, “The last few days have been most testing, and I squarely take the blame for this... A bad lapse of judgment, an awful misreading of the situation, have led to an unfortunate incident that rails against all we believe in and fight for.”

“I have already unconditionally apologised for my misconduct to the journalist but I feel impelled to atone further,” he added.

Tejpal is a founder member of the Tehelka magazine.

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