Panaji, Aug 19 (IANS): The Additional District and Sessions court in Mapusa (Goa) will resume hearing the rape case against Tarun Tejpal, former editor-in-chief of Tehelka magazine, from September 23 after the Supreme Court ordered completion of trial within six months, a court official said on Monday.

A division bench of the Supreme Court on Monday directed the Mapusa court to complete the trial within six months. The bench, headed by Justice Arun Mishra, also dismissed Tejpal's plea to quash the rape charges filed against him by the Goa court.

"The hearing has been now scheduled for September 23," a court official said, requesting anonymity.

The in-camera trial in the case started in March 2018, but the media has been debarred from reporting the trial developments.

Tejpal is accused of sexually assaulting a junior colleague inside a lift of a resort in Goa during an event in November 2013. He has been out on bail since May 2014.