Panaji, March 4 (IANS): The Panaji bench of the Bombay High Court Tuesday adjourned Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal's bail hearing to Friday, his lawyer said.

Emerging from the in-camera hearing at 5 p.m., defence lawyer Sandeep Kapoor refused to disclose any details of the proceedings, only saying: "I cannot say anything. The hearing has been adjourned to Friday."

Tejpal, wearing a white cotton shirt and blue denim trousers, was present during the hearing but did not make any comment.

Earlier in the day, Justice U.V. Bakre, hearing the case, agreed to Tejpal's request for an in-camera hearing, which resulted in journalists being asked to vacate the court room.

Since his arrest on charges of rape and other charges, Tejpal has been accused of possessing a mobile phone while in judicial custody as well as criminally intimidating the woman police officer investigating the case.

The high court Feb 18 postponed the hearing of Tejpal's bail plea, while seeking a copy of the charge sheet filed by the Crime Branch a day earlier.

After a rapid investigation, the Goa Police Crime Branch charged Tejpal with sexual harassment, wrongful restraint, and rape.

Tejpal has already spent 80 days in police and judicial custody since his arrest Nov 30 after a nationwide police chase.

A junior colleague had accused him of alleged rape during ThinkFest, a high profile conference organised by Tehelka founder in Goa which was attended by Hollywood star Robert de Niro. The victim had claimed that she was sexually assaulted twice on Nov 7 and 8.