Defence lawyers representing former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal who has been accused of rape continued to cross-examine the survivor for the third consecutive day on Wednesday, during the in-camera trial at a district court in North Goa's Mapusa town.
Speaking to reporters, special public prosecutor Francisco Tavora said that the cross-examination would spill over into Thursday.
“The victim has been cross examined for the third day in a row and the cross examination will continue in camera on Thursday also.”Francisco Tavora to IANS
A senior journalist who had filed a sexual assault case against Tehelka Magazine founder Tarun Tejpal in 2013 is being cross-examined in the court of the Additional District and Sessions judge Kshama Joshi.
Judge Kshama Joshi on 23 October had adjourned the cross-examination of the survivor as the adjournment was sought by Tejpal's lawyer Shrikant Shivde.
Her cross-examination started on 22 October and continued for two days in an in-camera trial.
Tejpal is charged under several sections of the IPC for sexually assaulting his junior colleague inside a lift of a resort hotel in Goa during a magazine's event in November 2013.
He 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.
The trial, which began in September 2017, was delayed after Tejpal appealed to the Supreme Court pleading the quashing of the charges framed against him. The apex court, while disposing of his plea in August this year, had directed the lower court to complete the trial within six months.
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