Panaji: The Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court on Thursday convicted former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal in the 2013 rape case involving a former junior colleague, overturning a 2021 sessions court judgment that had acquitted him.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Neela Gokhale and Justice Amit Jamsandekar allowed the appeal filed by the Goa government, setting aside the earlier acquittal and holding Tejpal guilty.
High Court overturns acquittal
The High Court convicted Tejpal under Sections 376(2)(f) and 376(2)(k) of the Indian Penal Code for rape, along with Sections 354A and 354B, relating to sexual harassment and assault.
Tejpal was present in court when the judgment was pronounced. The Bench has reserved the matter for a separate hearing on the quantum of sentence.
Tejpal seeks leniency
Following the conviction, Tejpal pleaded for leniency, citing his age.
“I am 62, and I believe I am a victim. I have a wife, and that’s not much else to say. All that I can say is we can go and appeal. Please be lenient with me,” he told the court.
His counsel, Senior Advocate Aabad Ponda, requested the court to consider that the alleged offence dates back over 13 years while deciding the sentence.
Appeal to Supreme Court likely
The defence also sought a stay on the conviction order for eight weeks to enable Tejpal to approach the Supreme Court. The request was made on the grounds that the High Court judgment had reversed an earlier acquittal by the trial court.
The case relates to allegations that Tejpal sexually assaulted a junior colleague during an event in Goa in November 2013. The sessions court had acquitted him in May 2021, following which the Goa government challenged the verdict before the High Court.
The sentence will be decided after a separate hearing.