Ex-Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal prays for leniency after conviction in 2013 rape case

The Bombay High Court on Thursday (August 6) convicted former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal for the rape a junior colleague in 2013.

The high court gave the verdict after setting aside the judgment of a trial court ordering Tejpal’s acquittal in 2021.

The sentence will be pronounced when the court reconvenes at 2.30 pm on Thursday.

Also read: Goa court acquits journalist Tarun Tejpal of rape charges

A division bench of Justices Dr Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar gave the order while hearing a petition filed by the Goa government.

Tejpal was found guilty of rape and sexual harassment under Sections 376 (2) (f) and 376(2)(k) and Sections 354A, 354B of the Indian Penal Code.

‘I am 62, a victim’: Tejpal pleads for leniency

After the court pronounced its order, Tejpal’s counsel, senior advocate Aabad Ponda, urged the bench to show leniency considering the fact that the offence is at least 13 years old.

He prayed the court for a stay on the conviction order for at least eight weeks to enable Tejpal to file and appeal in the Supreme Court, considering that it was the reversal of an acquittal.

Tejpal, who was present during the pronouncement of the conviction on the orders of the court, urged the judges to consider his age and grant him leniency.

“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. The rest of the facts are placed on record,” he said.

Precedent must be set: Solicitor General

Solicitor General of India, Tushar Mehta, who was representing the State, opposed the plea for leniency by arguing that a precedent must be set given the fact that the victim was Tejpal’s daughter’s age.

Also read: What gag orders on media in sexual abuse trials take away

“Despite the victim being a girl of his daughter’s age, he committed an offence…He was a father figure should have not indulged into this…A precedent must be set…Victim refused but he kept advancing on two subsequent days…This court must give out a clear message to the society that when a girl says no, it means no,” LiveLaw quoted Mehta as saying.

2013 rape case

The division bench had reserved the judgement last week following detailed arguments from both sides. The court had directed Tejpal to be present when it pronounces its verdict in the case.

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The case relates to allegations by a former junior colleague that the veteran journalist sexually assaulted her inside a hotel elevator during the ThinkFest event in Goa in November 2013. After he was acquitted by the trial court, the Goa government challenged the verdict.