New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday closed the case related to the extension of time after noting that a trial court in Goa has completed the trial by rendering an acquittal verdict in the sexual assault case against Tehelka magazine founder Tarun Tejpal. On May 21, a trial court of Mapusa town of Goa acquitted Tejpal, the former editor-in-chief of the Tehelka magazine, in the case. The state has also filed an appeal in the case.
The apex court, in October last year, had extended till March 31, 2021 the time for completing the trial in the sexual assault case at the request of the trial judge. The Goa government had also earlier moved the top court seeking extension of time to complete the trial. "The trial is concluded, Now, no order is required (on extension)," a bench of justices Ashok Bhushan, Vineet Saran and M R Shah said while closing the case.
Read: Shoddy probe led to Tejpal's acquittal on 'benefit of doubt': Court
The Bombay High Court at Goa on June 24 permitted the State government to further amend its appeal against Tarun Tejpal, former editor-in-chief of Tehelka magazine, in an alleged sexual assault case. The next hearing on the matter is on June 29, Pravin Faldessai, Assistant Solicitor General of India and Additional Public Prosecutor told ANI on phone. Earlier on June 3, the High Court of Bombay has issued a notice to journalist Tarun Tejpal on the appeal filed by the Goa government against recent acquittal in the 2013 alleged sexual assault case. The vacation bench of Bombay High Court in Goa had on May 27 adjourned the hearing of the appeal in the acquittal verdict of Tarun Tejpal, former editor-in-chief of Tehelka magazine, in the sexual assault case.
Tejpal was arrested on November 30 in 2013 after allegedly raping his colleague at a five-star resort in North Goa. Tejpal was already out on bail. On September 29, 2017, the court had charged him with various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including rape, sexual harassment, and wrongful confinement. He, however, pleaded not guilty. Following the framing of charges, Tejpal moved the Supreme Court seeking quashing of the charges levelled against him. In August, the top court refused to quash the charges and directed the trial to be concluded within six months.
Read: Tejpal judgement doubts victim's credibility: Goa govt appeal
PTI
