The Congress is not shielding Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal, who is accused of sexual assault by his junior colleague, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said Sunday.
Booked for sxexual assault on a junior colleague, Tejpal has been sent to six days' police custody by a court in Goa.
Shinde said the central government cannot interfere in the case.
"Our government does not protect culprits in any way," the home minister said at a press conference here.
"Since it is a case of a different state, the centre cannot interfere in it," he said.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has been accusing the Congress of supporting Tejpal.
Minister of State for Home R.P.N. Singh last week said the home ministry has sought a report from Goa Police on the case.