Indian journalist Tarun Tejpal convicted in rape case
The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court overturned a 2021 trial court verdict clearing Tejpal of all charges.
Tarun Tejpal, a prominent Indian journalist and author, is slated to receive his sentence later on Thursday after an Indian court overturned his 2021 acquittal, finding him guilty of raping a former colleague.
The Bombay High Court's Goa bench convicted Tejpal under Indian legal statutes related to rape and sexual harassment, as reported by the legal website LiveLaw.
Tejpal, who has consistently refuted the allegations, retains the option to appeal the verdict in a higher court.
The accuser, whose identity is protected under Indian law, claimed Tejpal assaulted her in an elevator during a Tehelka event in Goa in November 2013. Following his arrest, Tejpal spent seven months in jail before being granted bail by the Supreme Court.
In 2021, a trial court in Goa dismissed all charges against him, a decision subsequently challenged by the Goa government.
Representing the Goa government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta pressed the high court for the maximum possible sentence for Tejpal. "This court must give a clear message to society that when a girl says no, it means no. A no means a no," LiveLaw quoted Mehta as stating.
Legal website Bar and Bench reported Tejpal's plea to the court: "All I can say is I am 62. I believe I am a political victim. I am a father of two daughters. I have a wife. All we can say is we will go up and appeal. My lawyer wants me to request you to be lenient."