The Supreme Court on Friday expressed anger at the slow pace of trial in the criminal case against Tehelka’s founder Editor Tarun Tejpal, accused of sexually assaulting his junior colleague during an event hosted by the magazine at a Goa hotel in November 2013.

A bench headed by Chief Justice H. L. Dattu noted that it had specified on July 2, 2014, the day it granted bail to Tejpal, that the trial before a Goa session’s court should be completed within eight months, that is by March 2015.

But it seemed impossible now as even one year and three months after his arrest, even arguments on framing of charges could not begin. According to Tejpal’s lawyer Sandeep Kapur, despite repeated requests, the prosecution has not handed over to the defence crucial documents like CCTV footage from the hotel, copy of mobile numbers and calls being relied on and computer downloads of various mails being relied upon by the prosecution following which they had to knock the doors of the apex court.

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