the goan I network
MAPUSA
The Additional District and Sessions Court at Mapusa adjourned the hearing in the Tarun Tejpal rape case to June 11, as the government technical expert failed to appear in court on Friday.
“The hearing has been adjourned and scheduled for June 11. The government technical expert could not appear before the court due to his prior appointment,” said Cynthia Silva, Additional Public Prosecutor.
Former editor-in-chief of Tehelka, Tarun Tejpal along with his counsel and a technical expert from their side was present in the court.
It may be recalled the defense counsel, Shrikant Shivade, had moved three applications seeking additional documents and call records from the prosecution soon after the court had finished recording of the in-camera deposition of the victim on March 16, 2018.
The trial in the alleged rape case involving Tarun Tejpal began after more than four years.
The victim had testified before the Additional District and Sessions Court for two days on March 15 and 16 this year.
The Goa bench of Bombay High Court on December 20, 2017 had dismissed a revision petition filed by Tarun Tejpal and refused to quash rape and other charges leveled against him by a former female colleague.
The Mapusa court had framed charges against Tejpal under Sections 376 (punishment for rape), 354A (sexual harassment), 354B (criminal assault with intent to disrobe a woman), 341 (wrongful restraint) and 342 (wrongful confinement) of IPC.
A female colleague had accused Tehelka founder editor, Tarun Tejpal of raping her in the elevator of a starred hotel in Goa where the magazine was hosting a conclave in November 2013.
Following an FIR, Tejpal was arrested and sent to custody where he remained nearly for a year before being released on bail.
