Former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal has been convicted of rape by the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court, overturning his 2021 acquittal in a decade‑old sexual assault case.
The court found Tejpal guilty under sections of Indian law related to rape and sexual harassment after a review of the evidence presented at a Tehelka event in November 2013, where the victim allegedly was assaulted in an elevator. The court will hand down his sentence on Thursday.
Tejpal, who has consistently denied the accusations, faces the possibility of a maximum term if he appeals in a higher court. He had spent seven months in jail before the Supreme Court granted bail, and in 2021 a lower Goa court had dismissed the charges, prompting the government to appeal.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta urged the high court to impose the maximum sentence, emphasizing that a clear societal message should be sent when a victim says "no". In contrast, Tejpal invoked his marital status and family to request leniency, stating, "I am 62. I am a father of two daughters. My lawyer wants me to request you to be lenient.”
The conviction marks a significant verdict in a case that has drawn scrutiny over allegations of sexual misconduct within India’s media circles. The outcome will be closely watched by advocacy groups and those monitoring judicial accountability in the country.
