Indian journalist Tarun Tejpal has been convicted of raping a former colleague
Tarun Tejpal, the former editor of Tehelka, has been found guilty in a rape case from 2013, reversing the earlier acquittal by a court in Goa.
An Indian court has found former Tehelka magazine editor Tarun Tejpal guilty of raping a former colleague, reversing his earlier acquittal in a case that has spanned a decade.
The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court determined that Tejpal was guilty under the provisions of Indian law concerning rape and sexual harassment, as reported by the legal website LiveLaw.
The court has imposed a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment on Tejpal, who has consistently denied the allegations. The court is anticipated to issue a sentence later on Thursday.
He has the option to challenge the conviction in a higher court.
The case originates from November 2013, when a former employee of Tehelka alleged that Tejpal sexually assaulted her during the magazine’s prominent international conference in Goa. The conference saw the presence of several notable individuals, including Hollywood actor Robert De Niro.
The allegations against Tejpal, who was one of India’s most prominent magazine editors at the time, sparked significant national attention amid growing public concern over sexual violence following the 2012 gang rape and murder of a woman in Delhi.
Tejpal initially characterized the incident as “a lapse of judgement” and “a misreading of the situation,” stating that it had led to an “unfortunate incident.”
As the case unfolded, he maintained his innocence and called on authorities to review the CCTV footage, contending that it would clarify the events that transpired. He further claimed that the case was a manifestation of a political vendetta orchestrated by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in Goa.
Tejpal was taken into custody in 2013 and remained there for seven months until the Supreme Court approved his bail.
In 2021, a sessions court in Goa found him not guilty of all charges. The judge’s 527-page ruling faced criticism, especially regarding its remarks about the behavior and appearance of the woman who made the allegations.
The Goa government challenged the acquittal, resulting in the proceedings at the Bombay High Court.
During the appeal, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Goa government, urged the court to impose the maximum sentence after a conviction.
This court must convey a definitive message to society that when a girl expresses refusal, it signifies rejection. A no means a no,” LiveLaw reported Mehta as stating.
Tejpal informed the court of his belief that he had been politically targeted and expressed his intention to appeal.
I am 62 years old. I consider myself a victim of political circumstances. I am a father of two daughters. I have a spouse. All we can say is that we will proceed with an appeal,” the legal website Bar and Bench quoted him as stating.
The High Court determined that Tejpal was guilty under multiple provisions, including Section 376(2)(f), which pertains to rape involving an individual in a position of trust or authority towards a woman.
Tejpal co-founded Tehelka in 2000, and the magazine gained recognition for its investigative journalism and undercover reporting.
One of its most significant investigations was Operation West End, where journalists masqueraded as arms dealers and covertly recorded high-ranking military officials, bureaucrats, and political figures who were purportedly accepting bribes related to a fabricated arms deal.
