Tarun Tejpal’s Lawyers Starts Cross-Examine of Rape Victim
Panaji: Defence lawyers on Monday started cross-examining the girl, who had in 2013 accused former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal of allegedly raping her. While the hearing was conducted in-camera and both prosecution, as well as defence lawyers, were unwilling to comment on the course of the proceedings in the court of Additional Sessions Judge Kshama Joshi, sources said that the cross-examination was likely to continue on October 22 and 23. “The victim is being cross-examined by the defence team. It is likely to continue on Tuesday,” sources said. The victim has flown to India from the UK, where she is currently residing, to appear for the cross-examination. Tejpal is charged with several sections of the IPC for sexually assaulting the junior colleague inside a lift of a resort hotel in Goa during the magazine’s event on November 2013. Tejpal has been booked under Sections 376 (rape), 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement) 354A (sexual harassment) and 354B (criminal assault), of the Indian Penal Code. (IANS)