The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail to Tehelka founder editor Tarun Tejpal in a case of alleged sexual assault of an employee in Goa last year. The Court fixed an eight-month deadline for the trial to end and directed Tejpal to cooperate with investigation and trial and not attempt to influence the complainant or witnesses in any manner.
The 51-year old journalist was out on interim bail since May 19 to attend to his ailing mother who later died. Senior advocate Salman Khurshid who appeared for Tejpal sought regular bail citing delay in trial as the Goa Police investigating the matter had sought time to file an additional chargesheet. Tejpal was in custody since November 30, 2013 and with a list of 152 witnesses presented by the Investigating agency, Khurshid pointed out that the trial was set to be long-drawn.
Convinced by the submissions, the bench of Justices Hl Dattu and Sharad A Bobde held, “In the facts and circumstances of the case, we are of the view that the petitioner is entitled to regular bail.” The Goa Police launched stiff opposition to Tejpal's request citing previous instances where attempts were made directly and indirectly by the accused and his family to traumatize the victim. “This man is incorrigible,” said Additional Solicitor General Neeraj Kishan Kaul, referring to phishing emails received by the complainant's boyfriend seeking details of email communication exchanged between her and Tejpal.
“It is a case where charges are grave and we have a reasonable apprehension that he will tamper with evidence and influence witnesses,” ASG said, demanding the Court to consider deferring his release till the victim and four primary witnesses (employees of Tehelka to whom the victim confided the incident) had been examined in trial.