Tarun Tejpal Gets Three-Week Break to Collect Documents for Trial

Accused of raping a junior colleague, Tehelka founder Tarun Tejpal has been given three weeks to collect documents and evidence to argue his case. The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Goa police to hand over documents to Tejpal and also directed a trial court to adjourn the case for the duration of his break.

Tejpal had petitioned the top court on Thursday that even though he had not got the evidence and papers needed to prepare his defence, the Goa court was still going ahead with the sexual assault case. These include phone records and unedited camera footage on which the police have filed the chargesheet, reports NDTV.

The lower court was earlier ordered by the Supreme Court to conduct daily hearings and reach a decision within eight months. Tejpal said that this order was used by the trial court to justify starting arguments in the case.

Tejpal was granted bail in July last year after being chargesheeted for allegedly raping a woman colleague at a Goa hotel in November 2013.