TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The prosecution in the Tehelka case Wednesday alleged that CCTV footage of the alleged sexual assault case made available to the defence was being leaked. During the final arguments on the bail application filed by Tarun Tejpal before High Court Judge U V Bakre, public prosecutor Saresh Lotlikar made a slew of allegations against the applicant.
The Court will pronounce order on the bail plea on Friday.
“The CD (of the CCTV footage at the five star hotel handed over to Tejpal following court’s permission) is being displayed and showed to everybody by the family in Delhi,” Lotlikar told the bench while objecting to the bail.
Opposing the bail plea during the 40-minutes of arguments, Lotlikar feared that if Tejpal was granted bail then he would influence the witnesses and halt the process of trial. The special PP was referring to the incident when Tejpal was caught with a cell phone with an active SIM card, during a surprise check in the Sada sub-jail on February 26.
Lotlikar said that the details of the calls made from the cell phone which was found in the former editor’s possession were found to be made to Gurgaon and Delhi. “The victim is already feeling traumatized. She has disclosed messages are being circulated vilifying her character,” he added.
The arguments also saw the defence and the prosecution lawyers engaging in verbal duels over the submissions. Adv Amit Desai, representing Tejpal, raised objections over the prosecution’s allegation that the hard-copy of the ‘WhatsApp’ communications between the victim, her friend and Tejpal’s daughter were ‘manipulated.’ A battery of lawyers including Sandeep Kapoor, Raunaq Rao and Sayuli Pai Raikar assisted the lead lawyer during the entire arguments, which went on till 5 pm.
“The documents are not permissible in the law. Ex-facie it is an incomplete document because it does not contain whatever was communicated to the victim by others. It is manipulated,” he said. He also alleged that the crime was ‘premeditated’ because it was repeated twice over on November 7 and 8, 2013 during the THiNK fest conclave.
Adv Desai, during his one and half hour long rejoinder to his arguments, submitted that the CCTV footage outside the lift clearly indicates there cannot be a case against the accused while he also rubbishing arguments that the victim woman journalist was “way-laid, abused and taken advantage” by his client.
“The CCTV footage clearly indicates that the girl was running behind Tejpal after getting down from the lift as against the claims made that Tejpal ran after her. The girl was happy and held back no tears. The footage also shows that the girl went into the lift with consent and did not carry undergarments as claimed by the crime branch,” he said as he pleaded for Tejpal’s bail.
Tejpal was present in the court flanked by his family members when the case was being argued. Adv Desai brought to the notice of the Court that Tejpal’s mother is admitted to ICU in a critical condition.
