A sessions court in Goa deferred the rape verdict against the former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal on Tuesday. He is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2013. The Court will pronounce its verdict on May 12.
Additional district and sessions court judge heard final arguments in the Tarun Tejpal case on March 8 and fixed the matter for judgment to a later date.
Tejpal had allegedly sexually assaulted a woman on November 7 and 8, 2013. On November 22, police lodged a suo motu first information report (FIR) against him.
He was arrested on November 30, 2013 when the woman accused Tejpal of sexually assaulting her inside a lift of a five-star hotel in North Goa during an event organised by Tehelka. Tejpal was granted interim bail on May 19, 2014 to attend the cremation of his mother and since then, had been out of jail. In July 2014, Tejpal was granted bail.
On September 29, 2017, the court had charged him under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including IPC Sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), 354 (assault or criminal force with intent to outrage modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354B (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 376 (2)(f) (person in position of authority over women, committing rape) and 376(2)(k) (rape by person in position of control). He, however, pleaded not guilty.
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Tarun Tejpal moved the Supreme Court seeking quashing of the charges levelled against him but the court refused and directed the trial to be concluded within six months.