NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended till June 27 the interim bail of Tehelka founder editor Tarun Tejpal in a sexual assault case.
A Bench comprising Justice J S Khehar and Justice C Nagappan extended the interim bail, saying, “he had already been granted this relief earlier”.
As counsel for Goa opposed Tejpal’s plea for interim bail extension, the court asked why he was adamant on keeping Tejpal in jail.
Making clear its displeasure at the way Goa Police delayed releasing Tejpal after the court granted him three weeks’ interim bail on May 19, the court said the senior journalist could not attend his mother’s funeral because of “red-tapism”.
“By virtue of the red-tapism, he could not attend his mother’s funeral,” Justice Khehar said, while pulling up the Goa administration for taking time in releasing Tejpal.
Goa counsel told the apex court that the rituals for which Tejpal was seeking extension of interim bail could be performed by his younger brother. Opposing the extension, Goa counsel told the SC that Tejpal’s bail plea was listed for hearing in the first week of July.
Sahara Plea
The Supreme Court is likely to pronounce on Wednesday its verdict on a plea of jailed Sahara Group chief Subrata Roy seeking modification of an earlier order asking him to pay Rs 5,000 crore in cash besides a bank guarantee of an equivalent amount for securing his release.
A Bench of Justice T S Thakur and Justice A K Sikri on May 29 reserved its order after hearing arguments from the counsel of Sahara Group and Sebi on the fresh plea of Roy. The court also allowed the Sahara group to approach its creditor.
