HC refuses to stay framing of charges against Tarun Tejpal

Panaji, Sept 26: The Goa bench of Bombay High Court today refused to stay processes of framing of charges against senior journalist and former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal at a lower court and directed that the trial should begin only after its consent. The direction came after Tejpal filed a petition challenging framing of charges by Additional North Goa District and Sessions Court against him. The senior journalist has been accused of raping a colleague during a an event in Goa in 2013. Challenging the process of framing of charges, Aman Lekhi, counsel of Tejpal, had said the accusations of rape were false and there was delay of three years in handing over the evidence to him by the prosecution. On the other hand, prosecution lawyer Saresh Lotlikar had argued that veracity of the charges levelled against the scribe could be established only after a proper trial. High Court judge justice Prithviraj Chavan also directed that examination of witnesses at the lower court should begin only after consent of the High Court. Next hearing in case is scheduled at Additional District and Sessions Court in Mapusa, 15 km from here, on September 28. Tejpal was booked for allegedly molesting a junior colleague in a lift of a starred hotel during an event in Goa in 2013. On November 22, 2013, Goa Police took suo motu cognisance of the incident and a First Information Report was lodged against Tejpal. On November 28, 2013, Tejpal had come down to Goa and on November 30, he was arrested. Later, he had moved an anticipatory bail plea which was rejected but on May 19, 2014, he was given interim bail to attend cremation of his mother and later he was granted bail. Crime Branch of Goa Police had filed a charge sheet against him under sections 354, 354-A, 341, 342, 376, 376(2)(F) and 376(2) (K) of the Indian Penal Code. UNI