Tarun Tejpal's 10-Year Jail Term After Rape Conviction Begins in Mapusa, Goa

New Delhi: Tehelka magazine's former editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal surrendered before a Goa court on Monday, September 14, and he has been sent to Mapusa Central Jail where he is to serve a 10-year sentence in his conviction for rape.

The Bombay high court on August 6 convicted and sentenced the 62-year-old former Tehelka editor to rigorous imprisonment of 10 years. The Supreme Court denied him exemption from surrender on August 25.

A case of rape was registered in Goa in November 2013 after the National Commission for Women took cognisance of media reports about the complainant, Tejpal's former colleague. The crime branch, the investigative arm of local police, was asked to take over the case soon after.

Tejpal has appealed his conviction before the Supreme Court and that hearing would be held on September 22. The case was listed pending his surrender.

In 2021, Tejpal was acquitted by the Mapusa District and Sessions Court, and the Bombay high court's Goa bench had then heard the appeal filed by the state government. The primary contention of the prosecution (the state) in the appeal was that the Mapusa court had cast aspersions against the survivor and had not properly understood post-trauma behaviour.

The renewed hearings concluded with his conviction in August.

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