Mapusa: For the second consecutive day, on Tuesday, the defence counsel cross-examined the victim in the rape case involving Tehelka Founder Editor Tarun Tejpal in local court.
The cross examination of the victim began on Monday before District Judge Kshama Joshi in Mapusa town, which continued for the second day on Tuesday.
Advocate Rajiv Gomes representing Tejpal said that the cross examination will continue for Wednesday.
This is for the first time that the victim has remained present in the court for the trial, which has been held in-camera. Tejpal was also present during the trial on Monday.
A Supreme Court bench in August asked the Goa court to complete the trial in the case, preferably within six months, and refused Tejpal’s plea to quash the First Information Report (FIR) filed against him. Tejpal allegedly sexually assaulted the complainant inside an elevator of a five-star hotel in Goa in 2013. He has denied the allegations levelled against him. Tejpal was arrested on November 30, 2013 by the crime branch after his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the court. He has been out on bail since May 2014. In September last year, the district court framed charges against Tejpal. 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). He had earlier also moved the Bombay High Court, seeking a stay on framing of charges against him, but his petition was dismissed.
