SC to hear Tejpal's plea for extending interim bail

The Supreme Court will Tuesday hear Tehlka founder editor Tarun Tejpal's plea seeking extension of the interim bail he was granted for performing the last rites and other related rituals of his mother who had passed away last month.

Tejpal was arrested in Goa following accusation of alleged sexual assault on his junior woman colleague on Nov 7-8 in a five-star hotel during an event that organised by Tehalka.

A bench of Justice J.S.Khehar and Justice C. Nagappan said it would hear the matter Tuesday after a plea for extending interim bail was mentioned before the court Monday.

Tejpal has sought an extension of six weeks as he had to perform some religious rituals connected with his mother's death.

The apex court had May 19 granted Tejpal three weeks interim bail so that he could carry out the last times and other ritual of his mother.

Tejpal went to jail after Goa bench of the Bombay High Court denied him bail March 14 and again April 10 even while a charge-sheet had been filed against him.

He was charged February 18 with rape, sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of his colleague.

Tejpal had stepped down as the editor-in-chief of the magazine for six months on Nov 20 after his colleague accused him of sexual assault.