PANAJI: The cross examination of the survivor, who was allegedly raped by founder-editor of Tehelka Tarun Tejpal, will continue in the trial court from November 20 on a day-to-day basis.
Special public prosecutor Francisco Tavora told TOI that courts are closed for Diwali vacation from November 13 to November 19 and that cross examination of the survivor will continue from November 20.
Tavora said that the Supreme Court has extended the time to complete the trial till March 31, 2021.
“After completing the cross examination of the survivor, her husband’s statement will be recorded and then that of the remaining witnesses,” he said
The last time the cross examination of the survivor was conducted was in March, before the lockdown.
On December 12, 2019, the high court of Bombay at Goa had told the trial court not to allow Tejpal’s counsel to ask “irrelevant questions” during the cross examination of the survivor in the alleged 2013 rape case.
The survivor had approached the high court saying that Tejpal’s counsel was asking irrelevant questions during the trial court.
The cross examination of the survivor had begun on October 21 last year.
In September 2017, a Goa court framed charges against Tejpal. The founder-editor of Tehelka had pleaded not guilty, paving the way for a trial.
Tejpal has been charged for offences under Sections 354 (assaulting or using criminal force on a woman with an intent to outrage her modesty), 354-A (outraging modesty), 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrong confinement), 376 (rape), 376(2) (f) (person in position of trust or authority over women, committing rape of such women) and 376(2) (k) (rape of a woman by a person being in position of control or dominance over the woman).
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)