TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The disgraced editor-in-chief of Tehelka Tarun Tejpal failed to get relief from the High Court, after his bail plea was adjourned to March 4.
The bench comprising Justice Mridula Bhatkar refused to listen to defence Counsel Sandip Kapoor’s repeated oral requests for an early hearing of bail arguments. She also asked the defence to submit a copy of the 2846-page charge sheet, which Crime Branch filed before chief judicial magistrate on Monday. Tejpal has been allowed to appear during the next hearing.
As the matter came up for hearing on Tuesday, Adv Kapoor initially requested to postpone the hearing till Friday since they wish to engage another lawyer after Adv Amit Desai, who was due to argue the application in the High court, had personal problems. “…extend till Friday. We got Crime Branch’s reply to our application last evening. We have not received a copy of the chargesheet,” he submitted.
The Bench while adjourning the case by two-weeks reprimanded the investigating agency for not informing the court about filing of the chargesheet although another plea of Tejpal was heard hours before the submission on Monday. “…it was supposed to be disclosed to this court,” the Judge remarked.
Adv Kapoor requested the bench for an early hearing considering that Tejpal is in jail for around 80 days, but in vain. The Judge instead advised that they have liberty to approach the Sessions Court for bail since the case is already chargesheeted. “You may withdraw the petition here and go to the Sessions Court because there is a change of circumstance,” she said.
Clad in a cream trouser and white half-sleeve cotton shirt, Tejpal was seated on the front row of the Court hall 2 along with his daughter and family members by his side during the hearing. During the hearing, letters were exchanged between Tejpal and his family.
The adjournment upset the family who later held a 10 to 15 minute meeting with Tejpal outside the court hall to discuss further course of action amidst tight security outside the Court.
The prosecution led by Francis Tavora has opposed the bail plea citing 12 judgments of the Supreme Court and High Court which laid down as to when an accused can be released on bail in a non-bailable offence. “Therefore, based on the findings it is requested that the accused ought not to be granted bail,” the reply copy read.
Tejpal has moved the High Court of Bombay at Goa after Principal Sessions Judge Anuja Prabhduesai had rejected his plea for bail on January 15.
Meanwhile, Tejpal has filed an application before chief judicial magistrate seeking a copy of CCTV footage which the Crime Branch had sourced from the hotel. The application is posted for hearing on Wednesday morning.
