Nil spending on lawyers in Tejpal case: Parrikar

The Goa government has not spent a single rupee yet on lawyers in the sensational rape case in which former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal has been accused, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told the Goa assembly Wednesday.

Parrikar, also the home minister, in his written reply said, that as many as four lawyers had been engaged by the state government including senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi, now the Attorney General of India.

To a question by Congress legislator Jennifer Monserrate, who sought to know how much money was paid to advocates till date and the future fees payable to lawyers, the chief minister said: "Nil as of date".

The reply also lists senior special prosecutor Saresh Lotlikar, Francisco Tavora special public prosecutor, senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi and Additional Solicitor General of India Neeraj Kishan Kaul as the lawyers who were engaged in the Tejpal case.

Tejpal was accused by a then junior colleague of raping her twice during a conference at a five star hotel in Goa. Tejpal was subsequently arrested in November 2013 and is currently on bail.