TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Former editor-in-chief of Tehelka, Tarun Tejpal, will soon be handed the unedited CCTV footage of the crime scene after the Fast Track Court on Saturday directed the State government to furnish all contents that form part of the charge sheet to the defence.
The 51-year-old has been charged with rape, sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of a woman journalist in the lift of a starred hotel in November last year.
The defence had pleaded before the Court for the entire CCTV grab from November 7-29, 2013, whilst Crime Branch submitted the footage from November 7-26, along with the charge sheet filed on February 17.
Tejpal is also allowed to access the tower locations during this period and text messages between him and the victim, as these details are also enclosed in the voluminous charge sheet.
The prosecution had earlier objected to the defence’s plea saying the video grab was in DVR format and copying its clone image would be time consuming. The court had then sought forensic expert’s opinion in the matter.
Meanwhile, the order on Tejpal’s other application seeking registering FIR against investigating officer, Police Inspector Sunita Sawant for disclosing the identity of the victim in the charge sheet, has been kept for hearing for May 13. Yet another application of the prosecution to further investigate the case will be argued on the same day.
Tejpal is also allowed to access the tower locations during the period of November 7-29, 2013 and text messages between him and the victim, as these details are also enclosed in the voluminous charge sheet
