Sexual assault case: Supreme Court grants conditional bail to Tehelka founder Tarun Tejpal

Panaji, July 1: In a major respite,

magazine founder

, the accused in

case, has been granted interim bail by the

on Tuesday.

The apex court bench of Justice H L Dattu and Justice S A Bobde, while granting bail to Tejpal, gave liberty to the Goa government to approach the court in case of any attempt by Tejpal to influence the witnesses.

The court has directed Tejpal to surrender his passport to the trial court and to be present at the trial court on his hearing dates.

After a fast-tracked investigation, the Goa Police Crime Branch charged Tejpal under sections 354, 354-A (sexual harassment), 341 and 342 (wrongful restrain), 376 (rape), 376(2)(f) and 376 (2)(k)(takes advantage of his official position and commits rape in his custody).

Tejpal was arrested by the Goa police on November 30 last year, after a nationwide chase and since then, he was lodged in Sada sub jail in Vasco.

A junior colleague had accused Tejpal of alleged rape during ThinkFest, a high profile conference organised by Tehelka founder in Goa which was attended by Hollywood star Robert de Niro.

The victim had claimed that she was sexually assaulted twice Nov 7 and 8.

On February 18, Tejpal was charged with rape, sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of his colleague.

On May 19, the apex court granted him three-week interim bail so that he could carry out the last rites and other rituals as his mother had passed away.

On June 3, Tejpal's interim bail was extended as he had to attend some more rituals related to his mother's death.

Salman Khurshid, former external affairs minister in the UPA government, is representing Tejpal in court.

OneIndia News