The trial against Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal has been stayed for three weeks by the Supreme Court on his petition alleging that the trial court had proceeded with framing of charges without handing him a copy of documents relied by the prosecution.
A bench of Chief Justice Hl Dattu and AK Sikri, while deferring the trial, sounded critical of the trial being stalled by Tejpal and asked his counsel not to delay it further. “Argue on charge on the basis of available documents. In last eight months have charges even not been framedIJ” the bench asked senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who represented Tejpal. Sibal put the blame on prosecution for not supplying relevant papers.
Referring to the earlier order of the apex court granting bail to Tejpal, the bench observed, “We should be little more careful while granting bail in such type of matters.”