The Bombay High Court in Goa on Tuesday refused to stay the process of framing of charges against former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal at a lower court in Mapusa in north Goa. The court also directed that the trial could begin only after its consent.
The court direction followed the hearing of a petition submitted by Mr. Tejpal, challenging the framing of charges by the additional North Goa District and Sessions court against him.
Mr. Tejpal has been accused of raping a former female junior colleague during a Tehelka fest in Goa in November, 2013.
Mr. Tejpal's counsel Aman Lekhi, while challenging the September 7 framing of charges process, said the accusation of rape was false and the prosecution had delayed handing over the evidence to him by three years. The prosecution lawyer, Saresh Lotlikar, in response, argued that only a proper trial could establish the veracity of the charges levelled against the accused.
Justice Prithviraj Chavan directed that examination of witnesses at the lower court could only begin after it's consent.
Tejpal faces charges under Sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), and 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code, which were endorsed by the court. Section 354 (b) (criminal assault with intent to disrobe) was added later. He has been accused of sexually assaulting a junior female colleague in an elevator of a five star hotel in north Goa for two consecutive days during a festival event in November 2013.
Tejpal was subsequently arrested and is out on bail.
The next hearing at the trial court is scheduled for September 28. The High Court will continue hearing Tejpal's petition on November 1.
