SC extends the deadline of Tarun Tejpal's sexual assault case trial

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended the time for completing the trial in the sexual harassment case against the Founder and former Editor of Tehelka magazine, Tarun Tejpal, in Goa till March 31, 2021.

The veteran journalist was arrested on November 30, 2013, by the Crime Branch alleged to have sexually assaulted a former woman colleague inside an elevator of a five-star hotel in Goa.

The State of Goa had sought an extension from the earlier deadline of December 31st, 2020. The bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan on hearing the case cited reasonable ground for the extension, as 31 witnesses were yet to be examined.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for Tejpal objected to the extension, pointing it out as an injustice to the accused.

The apex court addressed Mr Sibal saying that the trial would be over within two months if he were to agree to a trial through videoconference. Tejpal's plea seeking quashing of charges against him was earlier rejected by the court.