PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has allowed the District Court, Mapusa to conduct chief examination of witnesses in the sexual assault case registered against former editor-in-chief of Tehelka magazine Tarun Tejpal.
The trial court on October 21, 2019 had resumed trial for evidence in the case after Supreme Court’s direction in August for time bound disposal of the case, preferably within six months. During the hearing of a petition filed by the victim on Thursday, the High Court also directed that the chief examination of other witnesses, which is pending cross examination of the victim. The woman, who’s presently in the UK, is likely to return to Goa in the next few days for cross examination slated to resume before the trial court in the first week of February.
The victim had knocked the doors of the HC seeking intervention as she alleged that defence counsel asked irrelevant and humiliating questions during the 10 days of cross examination testimony in October-November 2019. The bench has adjourned the matter for February 4 when the hearing would be held in-camera and in the chamber of the Justice.
