the goan I network
MAPUSA
The hearing which lasted for over one-and-half hour in the Additional Sessions Court, Mapusa remained inconclusive and will continue
on Saturday.
When the court assembled in the afternoon for the hearing of arguments before filing charges, the counsel for Tarun Tejpal moved an application requesting the presiding officer to hold the hearing only in the presence of the alleged accused and his family
members.
Consequently, the media personnel were asked to move out of the court.
The proceedings were then held behind closed doors of the court for over an hour and half. After the hearing, Tejpal’s counsel told the waiting media that the court has restricted publishing of the proceedings in the case.
“The court has passed a restrain order not to report anything in the media regarding these proceedings. The arguments are still on and will continue,” said Pramod Kumar Dubey, senior counsel for Tarun Tejpal. Dubey said the order was passed under Section 327 sub-section 3 of the CrPC where the law restricts publishing of any material in rape cases.
When a journalist questioned whether the curbs on reporting the proceedings meant that there was substantial material in the alleged rape case, Tejpal’s counsel snapped that there was nothing in the case. “We are saying there is nothing in the case. The CrPC 327 (3) says that in rape cases, the material will not be published in the media. This is the law of the land. Do some homework, read the law and then ask questions,” Tejpal’s counsel retorted.
Meanwhile, while Tejpal’s lawyers came down and met the waiting media from one side of the entrance, Tejpal made a dash to his waiting car from the other side.
Besides senior counsel for Tarun Tejpal, Pramod Kumar Dubey, Rajeev Gomes and other lawyers were also present in the court. Special public prosecutor, Francisco Tavora and the Investigation Officer (IO), Sunita Sawant were also present.
It may be recalled that the crime branch, which filed a charge sheet against Tejpal on February 17, 2014, seeks to prosecute Tejpal 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).
Tejpal was accused of raping his junior colleague at
a starred hotel in Goa in November, 2013.
