SC puts on hold Tejpal's trial by three weeks

The Supreme Court Friday put on hold, for three weeks, the trial of Tehelka founder-editor Tarun Tejpal for alleged sexual assault on his junior colleague in Goa during an event organised by the magazine.

A bench headed by Chief Justice H.L.Dattu suspended Tejpal's trial by three weeks after senior counsel Kapil Sibal, appearing for him, told the court that the trial court has fixed Jan 23 for arguments by him on the framing of charges but he had not been provided with the documents that had been relied by the prosecution against him.

While directing the trial court to make available the documents being sought by Tejpal including unedited footage of the CCTV of the five star hotel where alleged incident took place, Chief Justice Datu reminded Sibal that while granting bail to former Tehelka editor, it was said that the trial would be complete in eight months time.

The apex court, while granting bail to Tejpal July 1 last year, had said that he would remain present in the trial court on all days and would not seek unnecessary adjournments.

Senior counsel Salman Khurshid who appeared for Tejpal then had told the court that he had "taken note of the concern of the court" and was sure that his client would take it more seriously.

Tejpal, accused of sexually assaulting a woman colleague in a five hotel in Goa Nov 7-8, 2013, was charged Feb 18, 2014 with rape, sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of his colleague.