Tarun Tejpal sexual assault case: Full-day in-camera hearing on Oct 21

The Mapusa Court in Goa on Monday adjourned the hearing in the 2013 sexual harassment case against Tehelka Magazine Founder Tarun Tejpal. The case has been adjourned till October 21-23 because the victim did not turn up for the hearing in the court. Furthermore, the next hearing in the case will be a full day in-camera hearing in the Goa court. The case was heard on October 7, a week after Tejpal's plea to postpone hearing in the matter till November was heard and refused by North Goa district and sessions judge Kshama Joshi.

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Republic confronts Tarun Tejpal

Ahead of hearing in the case, Republic TV confronted Tarun Tejpal at the Goa airport. On being confronted on the reports of character-assassination of the victim, the Tehelka magazine founder refused to respond to the questions and maintained that he has never said a word.

"I can't. It is all sub-judice. We have not said anything. We have never said a word," the journalist said on the questions. 

READ | Tarun Tejpal To Face Rape Trial: 6 Months For 7-year-old Truth To Come Out

Case against Tejpal

In 2013, the complainant alleged that Tarun Tejal sexually assaulted her inside an elevator of a five-star hotel in Goa. While he denied the allegations of sexual assault levelled against him, Tejpal was arrest by the crime branch on November 30, 2013, following his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the court. He has been out on bail since May 2014. Later in September 2018, the district court framed the charges against the Tehelka magazine founder. He was booked under various Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections, including 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), 350 (criminal force), 376 (rape) and 354(A) and (B) (sexually coloured remarks and use of criminal force on woman).

In August 2019, a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra had asked the Goa court to complete the trial in the case within six months. Responding to the top court order, Goa court judge Joshi said the trial will be completed within the given time.

READ | Tarun Tejpal Sexual Assault Case Hearing To Begin On October 7

READ | Tarun Tejpal To Face Trial: Supreme Court Dismisses His Plea In Sexual Assault Case, Gives Goa Court 6-month Deadline

(With PTI inputs)