SC stalls framing charges against Tejpal for three weeks

The Supreme Court ordered a Goa court not to go ahead with the proceedings relating to framing of charges against Tehelka founder-editor Tarun Tejpal, in connection with a sexual assault case against him, for three weeks, without providing him all the necessary documents.

A bench of Chief Justice H L Dattu and Justice A K Sikri, however, rued the delay in the case, observing, “We should have been a little careful in granting such types of matter.”

Expressing displeasure over the pace of proceedings against Tejpal, the bench pointed out that though several months had passed since grant of bail to him by the apex court, even charges were not framed.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that he had not sought any adjournment in the matter, and claimed it was the prosecution which had defaulted.

He said the matter could not proceed until all necessary documents, including those pertaining to the CCTV footage of the hotel, where the incident reportedly took place in November 2013, were provided.