Former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal has been convicted by the Bombay High Court’s Goa bench in the 2013 sexual assault case involving a former junior colleague. The court overturned a 2021 trial court judgment that had acquitted him of all charges.
The case dates back to November 2013, when a woman journalist accused Tejpal of sexually assaulting her inside an elevator at a luxury hotel during Tehelka’s THINK festival in Goa. Following the complaint, Goa Police registered a case, leading to a lengthy legal battle that spanned more than a decade.
In May 2021, a Goa sessions court acquitted Tejpal, citing a lack of sufficient evidence. The Goa government challenged that verdict before the Bombay High Court, arguing that the trial court had erred in its assessment of the evidence.
Allowing the state’s appeal, the High Court set aside the acquittal and found Tejpal guilty. The court’s detailed order is expected to outline the reasoning behind the conviction and the applicable charges.
Reacting to the verdict, Tejpal said he was disappointed with the decision and intends to challenge the conviction before the Supreme Court. He also sought leniency from the court during the proceedings.
The case has remained one of India’s most closely watched sexual assault trials, drawing widespread attention since the allegations first emerged in 2013. The High Court’s ruling marks a significant development in the long-running legal proceedings.
