Tarun Tejpal Case: Apex Court Sets March 31 Deadline For Goa Court To Complete Trial

In the trial against Tehelka founder Tarun Tejpal,  the Supreme Court extended the deadline for a Goa court to complete the trail until March 31st. The SC also said that the accused was offered a trial through video conference amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but did not agree to it. Hence, the court today extended the time by three months. Earlier the deadline was set for December 31, 2020.

In November 2013, a woman journalist who worked with Tejpal had alleged that he had sexually assaulted her in an elevator of a five-star hotel when they both were in Goa for an event.

Tejpal had "pleaded not guilty,” his lawyer had informed the court at that time. Following which a case was registered in court. He was arrested on November 30, 2013 by the crime branch after his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the court and subsequently out bail in May 2014.

On August 19, 2019, the apex court had refused to quash the charges against Tejpal and ordered for an expeditious trial in the case.

However, when the hearing date came close on Tuesday before a bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench that the trial is now extended as per request from the trial judge, ANI reported. “There is no question of completion of trial by December 31 as there are witnesses to be examined. It will be better if we extend it till March 31,” the bench observed.

It also referred to Senior advocate Kapil Sibal's (appearing for Tejpal) claim which said the apex court may put up the matter for hearing in the last week of December or in January. It added, “The problem is Mr Sibal you are not even ready for video-conferencing or it would have got completed in two months”.

What happened so far

In September 2017, the Mapusa Trial Court of Goa had charged Tejpal with rape, sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of a woman. The court had booked him under section 354-A (sexual harassment), 354-B (assault or use of criminal force on a woman with intent to disrobe), 341 and 342 (punishment for wrongful restraint) and 376 (punishment for rape) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Earlier in December 2017, the Supreme Court had instructed the Bombay High Court to perform a trial and examination of the witnesses related to the case.

The Case

The former woman colleague had complained to her seniors at the magazine about the incident. Subsequently, a series of email conversations between her, Tejpal and the magazine’s then Managing Editor Shoma Chaudhary were leaked in the media and based on that, the police started an investigation.  Tejpal stepped down as Tehelka Editor and the Goa police arrested him on November 30, 2013.

Feature Image Credit: Jagran Post

Also Read:- 10% Women Face Sexual Harassment At Workplace, Says Study