)
The Supreme Court Monday issued notice to the Goa government on the bail plea by Tehelka founder editor Tarun Tejpal, currently in jail for the alleged sexual assault on a junior woman colleague in Goa.
To allay fears of influencing witnesses, Tejpal's counsel told the apex court that if granted bail the former Tehelka editor will not come to Delhi where the complainant and witnesses stay.
However, the top court said it would not grant any interim order without hearing the prosecution.
The court issued notice to Goa government, asking it to respond to Tejpal's petition in 3 weeks.
Tejpal has been charged with allegedly raping a junior female journalist colleague during an event in Goa.
Tejpal's bail plea mentioned that in this case, the trial is likely to take time and hence the accused should be freed on bail. The petition has cited the judge's order which refused bail to Tejpal, saying that the trial would begin in two months.
