The Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court has convicted former Tehelka Editor-in-Chief Tarun Tejpal in the 2013 sexual assault and rape case involving a junior colleague, sentencing him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. The court has directed Tejpal to surrender within two weeks.

In a significant judgment, the High Court overturned the 2021 acquittal by a Goa Sessions Court, holding Tejpal guilty after hearing the Goa government’s appeal against the trial court’s verdict.

The case dates back to November 2013, when a junior woman employee of Tehelka accused Tejpal of sexually assaulting and raping her inside a hotel elevator in Goa during an event. Tejpal has consistently denied the allegations.

During the sentencing hearing, Tejpal’s counsel argued for a lenient punishment, stating that he had no other criminal cases against him, had remained on bail since 2013, and that this was his first offence. The defence also requested eight weeks’ time to surrender.

However, the Solicitor General opposed the plea and urged the court to impose the maximum punishment. The prosecution argued that Tejpal occupied a position of trust akin to a father figure for the survivor, committed the offence despite her repeated resistance, and had never expressed remorse for his actions.

Accepting the prosecution’s arguments, the High Court set aside the trial court’s acquittal and convicted Tejpal, sentencing him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment while granting him two weeks to surrender before the authorities.

The judgment marks a major turn in one of India’s most high-profile sexual assault cases. Following the conviction, Tejpal is expected to challenge the High Court’s verdict before the Supreme Court.