Kathmandu— On Thursday, the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court convicted former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal for alleged sexual assault against a female colleague in 2013. The court overturned the acquittal handed down by the Goa Sessions Court in May 2021, ruling that the prosecution had successfully proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Background of the Case

The alleged incident occurred on November 7 and 8, 2013, when Tejpal is accused of sexually assaulting a female journalist inside a hotel elevator in Goa. The victim filed charges against him shortly after, leading to his arrest on November 30, 2013. In September 2017, the court charged Tejpal under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including rape and sexual harassment.

Tejpal had moved the Supreme Court in an attempt to quash these charges but was unsuccessful. The case then proceeded to trial, culminating in his acquittal by the Goa Sessions Court in May 2021 due to a lack of medical evidence and inconsistencies in messages exchanged between Tejpal and the complainant.

High Court's Ruling

The Goa government appealed against the Sessions Court’s decision, arguing that it was flawed. The Bombay High Court's Goa bench heard this appeal on Thursday and delivered its verdict, convicting Tejpal of sexual assault and harassment.

The court ruled that despite the absence of medical evidence, other forms of evidence were sufficient to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt.

(With inputs from ANI)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.