• Source:JND

The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court on Thursday convicted Tehelka magazine editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal, overturning his 2021 acquittal in a high-profile 2013 sexual assault case. Delivering the judgment, a division bench allowed the appeal filed by the Goa Government, finding Tejpal guilty of assaulting a junior colleague, according to Live Law report.

Was Acquitted In 2021

According to news agency PTI, Tejpal's defense counsel urged the High Court for leniency, arguing that he is a political victim and the father of two daughters. Tejpal was earlier acquitted by the Goa Sessions Court in 2021. The case stems from allegations by a female journalist who accused Tejpal of sexually assaulting her inside a hotel elevator on November 7 and 8, 2013. Following the accusations, he was arrested on November 30, 2013.

What's The Case?

On September 29, 2017, the court had charged Tejpal with various Sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including rape, sexual harassment, and wrongful confinement. He had pleaded not guilty and moved the Supreme Court seeking quashing of the charges levelled against him. However, the Apex Court refused to quash the charges and directed the trial to be concluded within six months.

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In May 2021, a Goa sessions court acquitted Tejpal of all charges, ruling that the prosecution failed to establish its case beyond a reasonable doubt. The trial court noted a lack of medical evidence and heavily factored in personal messages exchanged between the complainant and Tejpal. The court concluded that the communications did not show she was traumatised by the alleged assault. Following this, the Goa government had then challenged the acquittal before the Bombay High Court, seeking to have the trial court's judgment set aside.

Reacting to his conviction, Goa Advocate General Devidas Pangam said, "The court has heard the accused on the question of the quantum of sentence. The court will pass the order regarding the sentence to be imposed. The matter has been fixed for 2:30 today for orders."

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