Kathmandu— The Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court on Thursday convicted former Tehelka magazine editor Tarun Tejpal and sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment in a sexual assault case filed against him in 2013. The case, which involved accusations from a junior colleague, had previously resulted in his acquittal by a Goa Sessions Court in May 2021. The Goa government challenged this decision, leading to the High Court's conviction.

Case Background

The case dates back to November 2013 when a female journalist accused Tejpal of sexually assaulting her inside a hotel elevator in Goa on November 7 and 8. Tejpal was arrested on November 30, 2013, and charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including rape, sexual harassment, and wrongful confinement. He pleaded not guilty throughout the proceedings.

Acquittal and Appeal

In May 2021, the Goa Sessions Court acquitted Tejpal on all charges, citing a lack of medical evidence and messages between the complainant and Tejpal that did not support her claim. The Goa government challenged this acquittal before the Bombay High Court, which ultimately convicted him on all charges.

Government Response

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant welcomed the verdict, stating it was a victory for justice and highlighted the state's consistent pursuit of the case. Advocate General Devidas Pangam noted that while the government would study the order to decide whether to challenge the sentence, Tejpal had been granted four weeks to surrender.

Tejpal's Reaction

Speaking ahead of his sentencing, Tejpal maintained his innocence and vowed to appeal to the Supreme Court. He described the case as a result of political vendetta linked to Tehelka’s journalism and urged journalists to scrutinize similar cases against critics.

With the Goa government still weighing whether to challenge the quantum of the sentence and fine, and Tejpal signaling an appeal before the Supreme Court, the legal battle appears set to continue.

(With inputs from ANI)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.