Tejpal case: SC extends trial completion deadline to Mar 31

New Delhi, Oct 27 : Extending the deadline for the completion of the trial in the sexual assault case against journalist Tarun Tejpal to March 31, 2021, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said that if he were to agree to a trial through videoconference, it would be over within two months.
While the complainant woman had sought her cross examination via videoconference amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Tejpal had strongly objected to it.
A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan noted that the judge conducting the trial had cited reasonable ground for the extension of the trial in the matter. The bench said that 31 witnesses were yet to be examined in the matter.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Goa government, seconded the court observations in the matter.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal insisted that the trial should not be extended.
The bench told Sibal: “You are not agreeable to a trial through videoconference, otherwise it will be over within two months.”