Panaji: The Goa Sessions Court on Friday adjourned Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal's anticipatory bail plea hearing till 2:30 pm in an alleged sexual assault case against him.
Tejpal's lawyer has reiterated that he is ready to cooperate with the police in its investigations and asked for reasonable time for him to reach Goa. His lawyer also expressed confidence of getting the bail in the court. Tejpal's lawyer said that they have got an interim relief at a personal bond of Rs 20,000.
Goa Police sources said that they have a very strong case against Tejpal and are confident that his bail will be rejected and they will be able to arrest him. Even if the court granted him bail, the police can still go ahead with the interrogation.
The joint team of Goa and Delhi crime branch raided Tejpal's residence in Delhi early on Friday morning to arrest him. This after a non-bailable arrest warrant was issued against him in the sexual assault case.
Earlier, according to Goa police sources, Tarun Tejpal's wife, Geetan Tejpal has refused to reveal his whereabouts.
The Goa Police reached Tejpal's residence in Delhi at 6:20 am. The team spent an hour and twenty minutes inside his home. It spoke to his relatives and conducted a raid. The team then left Tejpal's residence without him for Goa Sadan at 7:40 am.
Tejpal through his lawyers had on Thursday sent a fax stating that he will join the investigations on Friday. His earlier request for time till Saturday was rejected by the police. Tejpal on Thursday also withdrew his anticipatory bail application in the Delhi High Court. Tejpal told the court he will move an appropriate court for relief.
The Tejpal sexual assault case has been witnessing dramatic developments with Tehelka Managing Editor Shoma Chaudhary resigning on Thursday. Shoma has been accused of going soft on Tejpal and not standing by the woman journalist who had accused him of sexually assaulting her. In her resignation that she sent in an email saying that it has been a damaging time for all associates in Tehelka.
She rejected the cover-up allegations against her saying, "While I accept that I could have done many things differently and in a more measured way, I reject the allegations of a cover-up because in no way could the first actions that were taken be deemed suppression of any kind. As for my feminist positions, I believe I acted in consonance with them by giving my colleague's account precedence over everything else."
Tejpal, who had applied for an anticipatory bail in the Delhi High Court on Wednesday, withdrew his application stating that he will file it in the respective court meaning one which had jurisdiction over Goa. Tejpal also found himself cornered over a request seeking more time to appear for questioning before the Goa Police.PAGE_BREAK
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