Tarun Tejpal, former Tehelka editor, sentenced to 10 years in jail for rape in 2013 sexual assault case

The Bombay High Court on Thursday sentenced former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal to 10 years of imprisonment in the 2013 sexual assault case, overturning a trial court judgment that had acquitted him.

The verdict came on the Goa government's appeal against the 2021 acquittal. The court had initially given him two weeks to surrender. However, on his lawyer's request, it later extended the deadline to four weeks.

Tejpal was present in court as directed by the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court, comprising Justices Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar, when the verdict was pronounced.


The case relates to allegations by a former junior colleague that Tejpal sexually assaulted her inside a hotel elevator during the 'ThinkFest' event in Goa in November 2013.

Tejpal has been convicted under sections 376 (2)(f) (person who is a guardian or in a position of trust or authority rapes a woman), 354 (a) (sexual harassment) and 354 (b) (using criminal force on a woman with an intent to disrobe her) of the Indian Penal Code.

While Tejpal's counsel Aabad Ponda sought the minimum punishment, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Goa government, sought the maximum punishment to send a strong message that "no means no".

Tejpal claimed that he was a "political victim" and the father of two daughters, therefore sought leniency.

Last week, the High Court reserved its order, having heard arguments from both sides.

As per PTI, Mehta argued that the sessions court committed a serious error by assessing the complainant's conduct based on preconceived notions of how a victim of sexual assault should behave.

He submitted that there is no universal standard governing a survivor's reaction, as responses vary depending on an individual's education, personality, social background and circumstances.

Mehta also argued that the trial court had placed undue emphasis on minor inconsistencies in the complainant's statements instead of examining whether her core allegations remained consistent. Referring to emails sent by Tejpal to the complainant after the alleged incident, the Solicitor General contended that Tejpal had apologised for his "lapse of judgment", expressed shame and stated that he believed the encounter had been consensual. These statements amounted to an admission that an encounter had taken place, he argued, according to PTI.

The defence lawyer, Abad Ponda, argued that the prosecution had misinterpreted Tejpal's apology emails as admissions of a sexual encounter. Ponda submitted that the emails did not contain any admission of a consensual physical or sexual encounter and instead referred only to a consensual verbal conversation of a sexual nature.

The defence also questioned the complainant's credibility, arguing that her conduct before and after the alleged incident, along with emails, WhatsApp messages and documentary records, contradicted the prosecution's case. It further contended that the complainant's account of being confined inside a moving elevator was inconsistent with expert evidence and CCTV footage, according to PTI.

A sessions court in Goa had acquitted Tejpal in May 2021 of all charges. The Goa government subsequently challenged the verdict before the Bombay High Court, leading to Thursday's judgment overturning the acquittal.

(With inputs from PTI)