NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned for three weeks the hearing of the petition of former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal (55) in the alleged rape case, seeking dropping of charges and his discharge.
The 3-judge Bench of Justices A K Sikri, Ashok Bhushan and M R Shah also ordered that the Apex Court’s interim order of October 4 restraining hearing before the Mapusa additional sessions judge will continue till the next date of hearing.
The Goa government sought the adjournment on the ground that Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who was to argue the matter on its behalf is busy in some other court. “List the matter after three weeks,” the court said in a brief order.
Messrs K J John & Company, advocate on record, appeared for the Goa government and pleaded for adjournment. Tejpal was represented by senior advocate Kapil Sibal and four other lawyers. Mehta had also appeared for the Goa government on October 4 and 30.
In his petition, Tejpal has challenged the order of the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court on December 20, 2017, rejecting his revision application to drop framing of charges by the trial court and discharge him.
He is being tried for an alleged sexual assault on a young colleague on November 7, 2013 in the elevator of a resort near the capital, Panjim, where Tehelka was holding its annual Think Fest.
