Bombay High Court Convicts Tarun Tejpal in 2013 Sexual Assault Case

In a significant legal development, the Bombay High Court has convicted former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal in a 2013 sexual assault case, reversing his earlier acquittal. The court found him guilty of multiple offenses under the Indian Penal Code, including rape and sexual harassment. This ruling follows an appeal by the Goa government against a previous judgment that had cleared Tejpal of all charges. The court's decision has sparked discussions on the handling of sexual violence cases and the importance of a strong judicial message. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for later today, with the detailed judgment expected soon.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 6, 2026, 12:56 IST

High Court Overturns Acquittal of Tarun Tejpal

File image of ex-Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal(Photo: @DesiEsco7/X)

New Delhi, Aug 6: The Bombay High Court has overturned the acquittal of Tarun Tejpal, the former editor of Tehelka, in a sexual assault case from 2013 involving a junior colleague. The court found him guilty of rape and other related offenses under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

A Division Bench, led by Justices Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar, accepted the appeal from the Goa government, challenging a May 2021 ruling by a sessions court in Mapusa that had cleared Tejpal of all charges.

In its ruling, the court convicted Tejpal under various sections of the IPC, including 376(2)(f) and 376(2)(k) for rape, as well as 354A for sexual harassment and 354B for assault with intent to disrobe.

The High Court is set to deliberate on the sentencing later today.

The allegations against Tejpal arose from an incident in November 2013, where a junior colleague accused him of sexually assaulting her in a hotel elevator during an event in Goa.

The Goa Police filed an FIR against him, leading to his arrest in November 2013 after a local court denied his anticipatory bail request. He was later granted regular bail by the Supreme Court in July 2014.

In May 2021, Additional Sessions Judge Kshama Joshi acquitted Tejpal, stating that the prosecution had not established its case beyond a reasonable doubt and pointing to investigative shortcomings, including the absence of certain evidence like CCTV footage.

The prosecution appealed this acquittal in the Bombay High Court, arguing that the trial court misinterpreted the evidence presented.

During the High Court proceedings, the Goa Police contended that the Sessions Court had placed undue emphasis on the survivor's behavior and background rather than evaluating the evidence against Tejpal.

They also highlighted that the trial court overlooked significant evidence, including an apology email allegedly sent by Tejpal after the complainant reported the incident to the publication's then-managing editor.

Following the conviction announcement, Tejpal's lawyer requested an eight-week suspension of the conviction to allow for an appeal to the Supreme Court, arguing that the ruling reversed an earlier acquittal and noting that he had no other criminal cases pending against him.

Tejpal appealed for leniency, claiming he viewed himself as a victim and urged the court to consider a compassionate approach in determining his sentence.

Conversely, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta opposed the leniency request, asserting that the case necessitated a strong message against sexual violence, emphasizing that "when a girl says no, it means no."

The High Court has postponed the sentencing discussion until 2:30 p.m., with a detailed judgment forthcoming.