The Bombay High Court today convicted former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal in the 2013 sexual assault case involving a former junior colleague and sentenced him to ten years’ rigorous imprisonment. The court also imposed a fine of 10,21,000 rupees, which would be paid to the victim. A division bench of Justices Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar of the Bombay High Court’s Goa bench convicted Tejpal under provisions of the Indian Penal Code related to rape by a person in a position of trust or authority, sexual harassment, and assault with intent to disrobe a woman. While imposing the minimum punishment, the court said the incident occurred 13 years ago, and Tejpal has since then not committed any other offence.
During the hearing, Tejpal sought leniency describing himself as a political victim and the father of two daughters. Appearing for the Goa government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta urged the court to award the maximum punishment, saying it would send a strong message that no means no. Following the verdict, Tejpal said he would challenge the High Court’s order in the Supreme Court.
The case stems from allegations made by a former junior colleague, who accused Tejpal of sexually assaulting her inside a hotel elevator during the ThinkFest event in Goa in November 2013. After he was acquitted by the trial court in 2021, the Goa government challenged the verdict in HC.
