Tarun Tejpal was present in court when the verdict was being pronounced on August 6.
The Goa government sought to increase the sentence of Tarun Tejpal, former editor-in-chief of Tehelka magazine, in the 2013 sexual assault case. The state government approached the Supreme Court on Tuesday regarding this. In its petition, the government stated that considering the seriousness of the case, Tejpal should be given a life sentence.
The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court had convicted Tejpal in the rape case on August 6. The court had sentenced him to 10 years in jail. Earlier in May 2021, a Goa trial court had acquitted Tejpal due to lack of evidence. After this, the case reached the High Court.
Tarun Tejpal was arrested in November 2013
Allegation of sexual assault with a female journalist
The case dates back to November 2013. A female journalist from Tehelka had alleged that Tarun Tejpal sexually assaulted her twice in the hotel lift on the night of November 7 and 8 during the Think Fest organized in Goa.
Why did the High Court overturn the Trial Court’s decision?
The High Court held that the Trial Court focused more on the victim’s behavior after the incident rather than on the evidence. Additionally, important evidence such as Tejpal’s apology email was not given due importance.
The court has found Tejpal guilty under Sections 376(2)(f), 376(2)(k), 354A, and 354B of the IPC. These sections relate to rape, sexual harassment, and assault with intent to disrobe a woman.
The Trial Court had acquitted, stating – insufficient evidence
The Trial Court had acquitted Tejpal of all charges on May 21, 2021. The court had stated, ‘There is insufficient evidence to prove the crime.’
The Goa government had challenged this decision in the Bombay High Court. The government argued that the lower court did not properly understand the evidence and wrongly assessed the victim’s testimony.
Tejpal coming out of the Goa trial court on November 30, 2013.
Victim complained to Tehelka, FIR registered… Understand the whole case
The woman journalist first sent an e-mail to Tehelka’s Managing Editor Shoma Chaudhury to complain. In it, she demanded a written apology, an admission of the incident in front of the entire staff, and the formation of an Internal Sexual Harassment Complaints Committee (ICC).
After the matter became public, Goa Police took suo motu cognizance, registered an FIR, and started an investigation. The investigation gathered evidence including CCTV footage, emails, and witness statements. Following this, Tejpal was arrested.
Became a publisher while doing journalism
Tejpal is a renowned journalist, writer, and novelist in the country. He has over 30 years of experience in journalism. He also started his own publishing company, India Ink. This company published Arundhati Roy’s novel ‘The God of Small Things’ in 1998, which won the Booker Prize.
After leaving Outlook, in March 2000, he, along with another journalist Aniruddha Bahal, started the online investigative website ‘Tehelka.com’. In 2004, it transformed into a tabloid newspaper, and in 2007, it was given the form of a magazine.
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