Former Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal Convicted of 2013 Rape

The decision overturns the judgement of a Sessions Court in Mapusa which had acquitted the Tehelka magazine's editor-in-chief.

The Wire Staff

The decision overturns the judgement of a Sessions Court in Mapusa which had acquitted the Tehelka magazine's editor-in-chief.

former tehelka editor tarun tejpal convicted of 2013 rape

File image of Tarun Tejpal. Photo: PTI/File.

New Delhi: The Bombay high court's Goa bench has convicted journalist Tarun Tejpal on charges of rape, sexual harassment and use of criminal force in 2013 against a woman who was his junior colleague.

The decision overturns the judgement of a Sessions Court in Mapusa which had acquitted the Tehelka magazine's editor-in-chief.

LiveLaw has reported that a division bench of Justice Dr Neela Gokhale and Justice Amit Jamsandekar allowed the Goa government's appeal.

Tejpal was found guilty of the offences of rape and sexual harassment under Sections 376(2)(f) and 376(2)(k), along with Sections 354A and 354B of the Indian Penal Code. He will now be separately heard on sentence and can face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.

The journalist had accused Tejpal of sexually assaulting her in a hotel elevator on November 7 and November 8, 2013. Indian Express has reported how, in 2021, a sessions court in Goa acquitted Tejpal, saying the complainant “did not demonstrate any kind of normative behaviour” a victim of sexual assault “might plausibly show”.

Tejpal's lawyer, Senior Advocate Aabad Ponda, asked the bench to be lenient because the offence is 13 years old. Ponda also asked for eight weeks of stay on the sentencing so Tejpal can appeal in the Supreme Court.

"I am 62, and I believe I am a victim. I have a wife, and that's not much else to say. All that I can say is we can go and appeal. Please be lenient with me. The rest of the facts are placed on record," Tejpal is reported to have said.

LiveLaw also reported on how Solicitor General Tushar Mehta opposed the plea for leniency. "Despite the victim being a girl of his daughter's age, he committed an offence... He was a father figure should have not indulged into this... A precedent must be set..." Mehta said.

"This court must give out a clear message to the society that when a girl says no, it means no," SG Mehta added.

This article went live on August sixth, two thousand twenty six, at thirteen minutes past twelve at noon.

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