MAPUSA
A Mapusa court on Thursday ordered framing of charges against Tehelka editor-in-chief, Tarun Tejpal, who has been accused in a rape and sexual harassment case.
The formal framing of charges will take place on September 28.
"The court has directed that charges should be framed against Tarun Tejpal," said Francisco Tavora, Public Prosecutor.
He said no charges were dropped against Tejpal.
"The court has directed framing of all charges. No charges have been dropped. In fact charges have been added," Tavora said.
However, Tarun Tejpal's counsel, Pramod Dubey told reporters that Section 376 has been dropped from the list of charges. "Section 376 is not there," Dubey said.
The Additional District and Sessions Court passed the order on framing of charges in Tejpal's rape case, the trial of which was conducted in-camera.
The Public Prosecutor said he could not go into the specifics of the order which was "bulky" due to the restraint order of the court.
It may be recalled that the lawyers of the embattled journalist had sought to bar the media from covering the trial under Section 327 (3) of the CrPC, which allows for in-camera trial of rape cases.
The court order will come as a setback for Tejpal's counsel, Pramod Dubey who had argued that his client be discharged from the case.
"After framing of charges, the matter will then proceed for further trial. We will examine the order and then decide next course of action," Dubey said.
Tejpal, accused of rape by a then woman colleague during an event hosted by Tehelka magazine in Goa in November 2013, was on Thursday accompanied by his family members.
Tejpal, who was subsequently arrested and remanded to police custody, is currently on bail.
The crime branch, which filed a charge sheet against Tejpal on February 17, 2014, sought 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).
Besides senior counsel for Tarun Tejpal, Pramod Kumar Dubey, Rajeev Gomes and other lawyers were also present in the court.
The Investigation Officer (IO), Sunita Sawant was also present.
A Mapusa court on Thursday ordered framing of charges against Tehelka editor-in-chief, Tarun Tejpal, who has been accused in a rape and sexual harassment case.
The formal framing of charges will take place on September 28.
"The court has directed that charges should be framed against Tarun Tejpal," said Francisco Tavora, Public Prosecutor.
He said no charges were dropped against Tejpal.
"The court has directed framing of all charges. No charges have been dropped. In fact charges have been added," Tavora said.
However, Tarun Tejpal's counsel, Pramod Dubey told reporters that Section 376 has been dropped from the list of charges. "Section 376 is not there," Dubey said.
The Additional District and Sessions Court passed the order on framing of charges in Tejpal's rape case, the trial of which was conducted in-camera.
The Public Prosecutor said he could not go into the specifics of the order which was "bulky" due to the restraint order of the court.
It may be recalled that the lawyers of the embattled journalist had sought to bar the media from covering the trial under Section 327 (3) of the CrPC, which allows for in-camera trial of rape cases.
The court order will come as a setback for Tejpal's counsel, Pramod Dubey who had argued that his client be discharged from the case.
"After framing of charges, the matter will then proceed for further trial. We will examine the order and then decide next course of action," Dubey said.
Tejpal, accused of rape by a then woman colleague during an event hosted by Tehelka magazine in Goa in November 2013, was on Thursday accompanied by his family members.
Tejpal, who was subsequently arrested and remanded to police custody, is currently on bail.
The crime branch, which filed a charge sheet against Tejpal on February 17, 2014, sought 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).
Besides senior counsel for Tarun Tejpal, Pramod Kumar Dubey, Rajeev Gomes and other lawyers were also present in the court.
The Investigation Officer (IO), Sunita Sawant was also present.
