Team Herald
PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Monday adjourned the hearing into an appeal against the acquittal of senior journalist Tarun Tejpal in a rape case. The court will next hear the appeal on February 8.
The Division Bench of Justice M S Sonak and Justice R N Laddha adjourned the matter after counsel representing Tejpal informed the court that the Supreme Court is slated to hear his Special Leave Application (SLP) on in-camera hearing this month-end.
The High Court had rejected Tejpal’s plea seeking in-camera hearing of the appeal filed by State government last year after which the former editor of Tehelka magazine filed SLP in the Apex Court. The matter is listed for hearing around month-end.
It may be recalled that the Supreme Court Judge L Nageswara Rao had recused himself from hearing a plea of Tejpal for an in-camera hearing on January 21.
Tejpal was acquitted by additional sessions judge Kshama Joshi at a fast track court in Mapusa on May 21, 2021 with the judge saying that there wasn’t ‘enough evidence to warrant a conviction’ and proceeded to give him the benefit of doubt.
Soon after, the Goa government approached the High Court challenging the acquittal hearing of which is underway.
