High Court on Thursday Convicted Former Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal of Raping a Colleague in 2013, Overturning His 2021 Acquittal by a Goa

The HC's Goa bench, comprising Justices Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar, also imposed a fine of Rs 10,21,000, to be paid to the victim. Tejpal, who was present in court, said he would challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court. The court initially ordered him to surrender within two weeks but extended it to four weeks at his lawyers' request.

The bench convicted Tejpal under IPC sections 376(2)(f), 354(a), and 354(b), with sentences running concurrently. While Tejpal sought leniency, calling himself a "political victim" and a father of two daughters, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Goa government, demanded maximum punishment, saying no means no. The case stems from allegations by a former junior colleague that Tejpal sexually assaulted her in a hotel elevator during the ThinkFest event in Goa in November 2013. The Goa government had appealed the trial court's acquittal. Tejpal's lawyer Aabad Ponda argued for minimum punishment, noting his client's clean bail record and senior citizen status.

Mehta countered that Tejpal showed no remorse and questioned the victim's behavior, emphasizing his dominance over her. The court noted the incident occurred 13 years ago and Tejpal has committed no other offense since.