Panaji, Dec 11 : A metropolitan court in Panaji, Goa on Wednesday, placed rape accused Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal in judicial custody for twelve days.

The custodial order was given after Tejpal was produced before the court on expiry of his extended police custody of four days today.

Tejpal's defense lawyer did not seek further police custody, but pleaded for a separate cell to be given to his client while he was in judicial custody.

He claimed that there were safety and security concerns, as Tejpal has antagonized people while being an investigative journalist for almost two decades.

The court has sought the opinion of Goa's Inspector General for Prisons by Friday.

It said that till that time Tejpal will be kept in a separate cell.

Tejpal is in custody on charges of rape of a female junior colleague during a media event in a Goa hotel in the first week of November. (ANI)