Mumbai. Former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal has suffered a major legal setback in the 2013 sexual assault case. The Bombay High Court has convicted him of rape and sexual assault, overturning a lower court’s acquittal. The case relates to the alleged sexual assault of a female colleague in 2013, which garnered widespread national attention at the time.
Under what sections was the High Court found guilty?
A division bench of Justices Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar convicted Tarun Tejpal under sections 376(2)(f) (rape by abusing a position of trust or authority), 354(a) (sexual harassment), and 354(b) (assault or use of force to outrage the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Lawyer pleads for leniency in sentence:
Following the conviction, Tarun Tejpal’s lawyer appealed to the court for leniency during the sentencing hearing. He stated that Tejpal was targeted for political reasons and is the father of two daughters. Based on these grounds, a request was made for leniency during sentencing. The court has currently delivered a guilty verdict, while a final order on the sentence length is pending.
Decision on Sentencing to be Declared at 2:30 PM –
Goa’s Advocate General Devidas Pangam stated that the court has heard arguments from both sides regarding the sentence. The order on the sentence length will be announced at 2:30 PM.
Investigating Officer Says High Court Properly Examined Evidence –
Investigating Officer Sunita Sawant stated that the investigation was conducted impartially and based on facts. All evidence found during the investigation was presented before the court. She stated that the trial court was unable to properly evaluate the evidence, but the High Court, after a detailed hearing on all aspects, overturned the acquittal.
What is the full story?
This case dates back to November 2013. A female journalist working for Tehelka at the time alleged that Tarun Tejpal sexually assaulted and raped her on two separate occasions in a hotel elevator during a ThinkFest event in Goa. Following the allegations, Tejpal was arrested on November 30, 2013. Now, nearly 13 years later, the Bombay High Court has overturned the lower court’s verdict and convicted him.