HC allows framing of charges in Tarun Tejpal case, trial put on hold
The Goa bench of the Bombay high court on Tuesday refused to put a stay on framing of charges against former Tehelka magazine editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal.
The matter was put before the HC after a petition was moved forward by Tejpal challenging a Mapusa court’s September 7 order for framing of charges.
The HC also said it will hear Tejpal before deciding on the first witness appearance at the trial and has asked to place a stay on the trial till it directs otherwise. The HC will hear arguments on November 1. The Mapusa additional district and sessions court had ordered that charges be framed against Tejpal in connection with a rape case.
In his primary appeal Tejpal had said that the charges of rape against him are false and had blamed the state for delaying the matter for three years.
“Final charges are 354 (A), 354 (B), 341, 342, 376(2) F, 376(2) K. Section 376 is not there. The court will frame the charge and then we will see and examine the order and will decide the next course of action,” Tarun Tejpal’s lawyer, Pramod Dubey, told HT.
Earlier in June, the Mapusa court passed an order which restricted the media from reporting any proceedings in the case.
It was in November 2013 that Tejpal was accused of sexually assaulting a female colleague at an event in Goa. An FIR was filed against him and he then quit his post int he magazine.
PANAJI: