Team Herald
PANJIM: The hearing against former Editor-in-Chief of Tehelka magazine Tarun Tejpal in a sexual assault case is likely to resume on October 7 as the trial on Monday yet again witnessed a delay after the accused sought further time from the District Court, Panjim.
Mapusa trial court, where the hearing was expected to resume on Monday was transferred to the District Court in Panjim, owing to the absence of a judge. The matter was thereafter placed before District and Additional Sessions Judge Kshama Joshi during which Tejpal requested to postpone the hearing in November.
The judge turned down the request citing Supreme Court’s directions to complete the trial within six months and requested all the parties to cooperate without further delay. Tejpal informed the judge that his advocate is unavailable to appear for the hearing next month and submitted that court can commence day-to-day proceedings thereafter. The judge, declining his request, posted the matter “for appearance” before Judge Sherin Paul on October 7. The fast track hearing into the case will be taken up thereupon.
In August, the Supreme Court, while hearing Tejpal’s plea seeking relief in the 2013 case, had noted that sexual assault is a very serious offence and morally abhorrent case. Since the charges were framed six years back, the Bench had observed that there can be no further delay and directed the Mapusa court to complete the trial within six months.
Tejpal has been charged with sexually assaulting his junior colleague inside a lift of a resort where the magazine’s event was underway in November 2013.
