Tapas Pal's case: Calcutta High Court to give verdict on Aug 13, stay extended

 After completing the hearing in Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Pal's case today, the Calcutta High Court today said it will give its verdict on August 13 and extended the stay on registration of FIR against him for his "shoot and rape" comments. A division bench comprising Justice Girish Gupta and Justice T Chakraborty heard the case for the third consecutive day today.

It extended the stay till August 14 on the execution of a single bench order directing registration of an FIR and CID probe against Pal for his objectionable comments against women. Kalyan Banerjee, a TMC MP and senior advocate who appeared on behalf of the state challenging the single bench order, had prayed for an interim injunction on Justice Dipankar Dutta's order.

Justice Dutta had earlier ordered registration of FIR and transfer of the case to CID within 72 hours. Banerjee told the bench that police had sought the original video tape of Pal's comments from the TV channel which had broadcast it. He said the police are yet to get the tape and as soon as they get evidence, the investigation will start. Pal, whose controversial remarks against women had sparked an outrage, on July 1 tendered an unconditional apology saying that in making such comments he had let down his constituency and the people of Bengal.