The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended the time for completing a sexual harassment trial against Tarun Tejpal, founder of Tehelka magazine, in Goa till March 31 next year.
The earlier deadline was December 31, 2020. The State of Goa had sought an extension.
“An application has been filed for extension of time for completion of the trial. The time to complete the trial is extended till March 31, 2021”, a Bench led by Justice Ashok Bhushan ordered.
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Sibal’s plea
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, for Mr. Tejpal, said the trial should not be delayed as it hurt the rights of the accused. The trial had been extended earlier.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for Goa, said “let us not put pressure on the judge [of the trial court]”.
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Justice M.R. Shah addressed Mr. Sibal, “But you are not agreeable to a trial by video conferencing... If so, it will be over in two months”.
In a hearing held in August in connection with the case, the apex court orally observed that the charges involved were serious.
The Goa trial court framed charges against Mr. Tejpal in September 2017.
He was arrested on November 30, 2013 by the Crime Branch after his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the court. He has been out on bail since May 2014.