The former editor of Tehelka magazine has been booked in a rape case dating back to February 2014 by the Goa police and has sought discharge from the case

The Supreme Court, on Tuesday (November 27), once again extended the stay on the trial against former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal in the rape case registered with the Goa police against him back in February 2014.

The bench of Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan adjourned the proceedings in the case, filed by Tejpal seeking his discharge from the rape trial, for three weeks after counsel for the State of Goa sought a deferment of the matter. The bench had, on November 9, directed that the trial against Tejpal in the rape case should be put on hold till November 27.

Earlier on October 4, the apex court had asked the trial court in Mapusa town of Goa not to proceed with the hearing of the rape case against Tejpal till October 31.

It may be recalled that Tejpal was accused of rape by one of his junior colleagues on November 7, 2013. Tejpal allegedly sexually assaulted the complainant in the elevator of the Grand Hyatt hotel in Panaji, where Tehelka was holding its annual Think Fest.

The trial court had charged Tejpal with rape, sexual harassment and wrongful restraint to which he had pleaded not guilty.

Tejpal had challenged the trial court’s charges in the Supreme Court seeking a discharge from the case.

—India Legal Bureau