Representative image

PANAJI: The trial court, Mapusa on Thursday scheduled further cross examination of the survivor in the alleged rape case against former Tehelka founder-editor Tarun Tejpal for four days in December.

Speaking to TOI, special public prosecutor Francisco Tavora said the court has fixed the cross examination of the survivor on December 17 and 18, and December 20 and 21.

The trial in the case commenced last month after the high court of Bombay at Goa dismissed Tejpal’s petition for postponement. The cross examination of the survivor had begun on October 21.

“In the given circumstances, where the survivor has already made her travel arrangements to come down to India from UK from October 21 to 23 and further having regard to the direction of the Supreme Court for expeditious and time-bound disposal of the sessions case, it is not possible for this court to interfere with the dates and the programme so fixed. The petition is accordingly dismissed,” justice C V Bhadang had maintained.

Tejpal had challenged the Mapusa additional sessions court order before the high court which had scheduled the cross-examination of the survivor from October 21. Tejpal had pleaded that the trial be adjourned till December 2.

The trial in the case commenced last month after the high court dismissed Tejpal’s petition for postponement. The cross examination of the survivor had begun on October 21

