New Delhi: The Supreme Court today allowed senior journalist Tarun Tejpal, who is currently behind bars in a Goa jail on charges of rape and sexual harassment, to attend the funeral of his mother in police custody. Tejpal’s lawyer had moved the Apex Court to seek an interim bail of a few days so that the Tehelka founder could attend the last rites, which may go on for a few days.
The Supreme Court bench hearing the case said it will take a decision about granting bail after hearing the view of the Goa government’s counsel, who was not present during the hearing. Appearing before a bench of justices B S Chauhan and A K Sikri, Tejpal’s lawyer advocate Sandeep Kapur had sought its direction to release him to attend the cremation of his mother.
He has been accused of sexually assaulting the victim on November 7 and repeating the offence the next day. He is currently in judicial custody and lodged at Sada sub-jail in Goa’s Vasco town. Tejpal’s mother Shakuntala Tejpal died on Sunday evening, his lawyer said today.
She was suffering from brain tumour and was living in Mr Tejpal’s house at Moira in North Goa. She expired last evening at Tejpal’s Goa residence. The decision is yet to be taken whether the final rites would be conducted in Goa or Delhi Tejpal’s lawyer Sandip Kapoor earlier said news agency.
The court had in the past granted permission to Tejpal twice to meet his ailing mother, once in the hospital at Mapusa town and the second time at his residence in Goa. Tejpal was booked for allegedly raping his woman colleague during an event in the state and has been lodged in jail since November 30 last year, after his anticipatory bail was rejected by a local court.
Bureau Report
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