A Goa court on Friday asked journalists to leaveas the hearing of arguments before framing of charges in the rape case against founder editor of Tehelka , Tarun Tejpal, began at Mapusa in north Goa.
This move came after, Mr. Tejpal’s lawyer Pramod Kumar Dubey requested the Additional District Sessions Judge Vijaya Pol to restrict the media from reporting the court proceedings under Section 327(3) of CrPC.
The court sought the opinion of Special Public Prosecutor Francisco Tavora who did not object.
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The judge then asked the media and all persons not connected with the case to leave the court. The arguments will continue on Saturday.
The Crime Branch of Goa police had filed a charge sheet against Mr. Tejpal on February 17, 2014 seeking to prosecute him under IPC Sections 354 (assaulting or using criminal force on a woman with an intent to outrage her modesty), 354-A (outraging modesty), 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrong confinement), 376 (rape), 376(2) (f) (person in position of trust or authority over women, committing rape of such women), and 376(2) (k) (rape of a woman by a person being in position of control or dominance over the woman).
In November 2013, Tejpal was accused of sexually assaulting and raping a female colleague in the elevator of a five-star hotel, at an annual event of the publication in north Goa. Mr. Tejpal is currently out on bail.
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