Tejpal rape case trial fixed on October 7

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Panaji: District Court on Monday posted the trial in connection with the rape charges on founder Editor of Tehelka, Tarun Tejpal for October 7.

Supreme Court had recently refused to give respite to Tejpal in the case ordering the trial to be completed in six months. North Goa District and Sessions Judge Kshama Joshi heard the case on Monday.

Public Prosecutor Francisco Tavera said that the matter has been fixed on October 7 now when the trial in the case would resume.

The Judge said that the trial will have to be completed within the given time. “There is direction in the matter and it is the duty of the court to comply with it,” she said.

Tejpal who appeared in person before the Court requested that the next date for the court hearing be fixed in November, which was refused by the Judge posting the matter on October 7.

Talking to reporters outside the court, Tejpal said that he is confident that “all truth will come out.”

The Supreme court, last month, had refused the plea by Tejpal to quash the First Information Report filed against him.

The victim, a junior colleague of Mr Tejpal, had accused him of sexually assaulting her inside a lift at a five-star hotel in Goa during the magazine’s THiNK fest event in 2013.

In September last year, the district court had framed charges of rape and wrongful confinement against Mr Tejpal.

Mr Tejpal was charged under various 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).

He had earlier moved the Bombay high court seeking a stay on framing of charges against him, but his petition was dismissed.

Mr Tejpal was arrested by the Goa crime branch on November 30, 2013, after his anticipatory bail was rejected by the court. He has been out on the bail since May 2014, when the Supreme Court granted him the relief.

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