Goa court on framed charged against former editor-in-chief of Tehelka magazine, Tarun Tejpal, for raping a junior colleague four years ago, said media reports on Thursday.
According to media reports, Tarun Tejpal is facing charges under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 376 (rape), 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), 354-A (demanding sexual favours) and 354-B (criminal assault with intent to disrobe a woman). After the charges were presented and explained to him, he pleaded not guilty.
Tejpal’s counsel Rajiv Gomes expressed disappointment at Additional District and Sessions Judge Vijaya Pol’s order. and said, the framing of charges was not a setback to Tejpal.
The counsel said the defence hoped that its appeal pending before the Bombay High Court’s Panaji bench would reverse the lower court’s order.
The Sessions Court will hear the case again on November 21 and has also asked for a status report on a petition filed by Tejpal before the Bombay High Court’s Panaji bench to stay the framing of charges.
Earlier, the Panaji bench of the Bombay High Court on Tuesday had refused to stay the framing of charges against Tarun Tejpal in a lower court.
Tejpal had sought a stay on framing of charges against him till the time the HC has decided his plea on dropping the charges. He has contended there was a lack of evidence against him in the case.
The High Court will hear Tejpal’s plea on November 1.
Tarun Tejpal had allegedly sexually assaulted a female colleague inside a lift at Hotel Grand Hyatt during the magazine’s THiNK 2013 festival in Goa on the night of 7 November, 2013.
(With agency inputs)