Mumbai— The Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court set aside the acquittal of former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal in the 2013 sexual assault case, finding him guilty of rape and outraging the modesty of a junior colleague. A division bench comprising Justice Dr. Neela Gokhale and Justice Amit Jamsandekar allowed the appeal filed by the Goa government, overturning a May 2021 sessions court ruling that had cleared Tejpal of all charges. The High Court convicted Tejpal under multiple provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including Sections 376(2)(f) and 376(2)(k) for rape, alongside Sections 354A and 354B for sexual harassment and criminal force.
The high-profile legal dispute stems from an incident in November 2013, when a female journalist accused Tejpal of sexually assaulting her inside an elevator at a luxury hotel in Goa during a event organized by Tehelka magazine. Following an investigation by the Goa Police, charges were framed against Tejpal in 2017. Although the Mapusa sessions court acquitted Tejpal in 2021 after questioning the complainant’s post-incident behavior, state prosecutors challenged the verdict, arguing that the trial court had relied on flawed assumptions and misevaluated key evidence.
During the proceedings on Thursday, Tejpal was present in court as the division bench delivered its verdict. Arguing for leniency during sentencing discussions, Tejpal’s legal counsel noted his age and family background, while Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Goa government, urged the court to deliver a decisive message regarding workplace safety and women’s rights. The High Court scheduled separate arguments to determine the quantum of sentence, marking a crucial judicial turn in one of India’s most closely watched sexual assault prosecutions.
