No Means No: Tarun Tejpal Convicted in 2013 Rape Case

The Bombay High Court on Thursday convicted former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal in the 2013 sexual assault case. The Goa Bench of the High Court also cancelled the 2021 trial court judgment that had acquitted him.

A Bench of Justices Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar found Tejpal guilty under charges related to rape, sexual harassment and using criminal force against a woman. The court said it would announce the sentence later in the day.

Under the rape charge, Tejpal faces a minimum prison term of 10 years, which can extend to life imprisonment.

During the hearing, Tejpal’s lawyer, Aabad Ponda, requested the court to award the minimum punishment. On the other hand, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Goa government, asked the court to give the maximum punishment. He said it would send a strong message that “no means no.”

Tejpal, who was present in court, asked for leniency. He told the court that he was a “political victim” and the father of two daughters.

The case is related to allegations made by a former junior colleague. She accused Tejpal of sexually assaulting her inside a hotel elevator during the ThinkFest event in Goa in November 2013.

A Goa trial court had acquitted Tejpal in 2021. The Goa government later challenged that verdict in the Bombay High Court, which has now convicted him.