Former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal suffered a major setback in the 2013 rape case. The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court on Thursday convicted him, overturning the trial court’s 2021 acquittal.
The case relates to the alleged sexual harassment of a junior female colleague during the ThinkFest event held in Goa in 2013.
The High Court reversed the trial court’s decision
The Goa government appealed to the High Court against the trial court’s acquittal of Tarun Tejpal in 2021. After hearing the appeal, a division bench of Justices Dr. Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar set aside the trial court’s verdict and convicted Tejpal.
What is the whole matter?
It is alleged that during the Thinkfest event held at a hotel in Goa in November 2013, Tarun Tejpal sexually assaulted his junior colleague inside the hotel lift.
The trial in this case began in the Mapusa Sessions Court in 2017. In 2021, the trial court acquitted him, prompting the Goa government to approach the High Court.
What argument was given by the government?
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued in the court that the trial court evaluated the behaviour of the victim on the basis of prejudices and assumed that a woman who is a victim of sexual harassment should behave in a certain manner.
He said that there is no universal standard for the reaction of any victim and every person reacts differently according to the circumstances.
What did Tejpal say after being convicted?
After being convicted, Tarun Tejpal appealed to the court for leniency. He said he considered himself a victim in the case and wanted to appeal the verdict in a higher court.
sentence pending decision
Following the conviction, the court reserved its decision on sentencing. The prosecution has also demanded his immediate arrest. All eyes are now on the court’s sentencing.