SC agrees to hear Tejpal's bail plea

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear the bail plea of the former editor of Tehelka, Tarun Tejpal, who has been chargesheeted for allegedly raping, sexually harassing and outraging the modesty of a junior colleague during an event held in Goa in November last year. It has also issued a notice to the Goa Police.

A bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam asked the Goa Police to file its reply within four weeks. During the brief arguments, senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Tejpal, pleaded for interim bail saying, the accused will not come to Delhi during the pendency of the trial.

Tejpal, 50, approached the apex court challenging the March 14 verdict of the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court which had rejected his bail plea.

Tejpal, currently, is in judicial custody and lodged at Sada sub-jail in Vasco. Tejpal, in his bail petition, stated there were 152 prosecution witnesses who have to be cross-examined by the court, due to which the trial is likely to get prolonge. The Goa Police has claimed in the chargesheet there was sufficient evidence available in the form of documents and statements on record to show that Tejpal had been evading police after commission of the alleged crime.