newspop
Mumbai : The Bombay High Court on Thursday sentenced former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment after convicting him in the 2013 sexual assault case involving a former junior colleague. The court overturned the 2021 judgment of a Goa trial court, which had acquitted Tejpal of all charges.
The case relates to allegations that Tejpal sexually assaulted a woman colleague inside a hotel elevator during the Tehelka ThinkFest event in Goa in November 2013. Reversing the earlier acquittal, the High Court found him guilty and imposed a decade-long prison sentence.
During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Goa government, urged the court to award a strict sentence, arguing that the case involved a serious breach of trust. Stressing the importance of consent, he told the court that “when a woman says no, it means no,” and submitted that Tejpal had abused his position of authority.
Seeking a reduced sentence, Tejpal cited his age, family responsibilities, and health, while claiming he had been targeted for political reasons. He informed the court that he would challenge the conviction before the Supreme Court. Speaking to reporters after the verdict, Tejpal maintained that he was innocent and described the case as false, saying he would continue the legal battle.
The judgment brings a significant chapter in one of India’s most closely watched workplace sexual assault cases to a close, while reinforcing the judiciary’s emphasis on consent, accountability, and workplace safety.
