High Court Orders Tarun Tejpal to Attend Hearing in Sexual Assault Case

Court Directs Tejpal's Presence for Verdict Announcement

Panaji, August 5 - The Bombay High Court has mandated the presence of former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal on Thursday morning, as it prepares to deliver its ruling on the Goa government's appeal against his acquittal in a 2013 sexual assault case. The bench, comprising Justice Dr. Neela Gokhale and Justice Amit Jamdar, had reserved its decision last week after hearing extensive arguments from both sides.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta represented the state government, which is seeking to overturn the acquittal, while senior advocate Abad Ponda defended Tejpal.

The case revolves around allegations made by a former junior colleague, who claimed that Tejpal sexually assaulted her in a hotel lift during the 'ThinkFest' event in Goa in November 2013. Following the lower court's acquittal of Tejpal, the Goa government challenged this decision in the High Court.

Last week, the High Court heard arguments from both Tushar Mehta and Tejpal's lawyer, Abad Ponda, before reserving its judgment.

Mehta argued on behalf of the state government, stating that the sessions court made a significant error by evaluating the victim's behavior based on preconceived notions. He emphasized that there cannot be a universal standard for a sexual assault victim's response, as it varies based on individual education, personality, social background, and circumstances.

He also pointed out that the lower court placed undue emphasis on minor inconsistencies in the victim's statements, rather than assessing whether her main allegations remained consistent. The defense contended that the prosecution misrepresented Tejpal's apology email as an admission of guilt regarding sexual relations. They raised questions about the credibility of the complainant, arguing that her behavior, emails, WhatsApp messages, and documentary evidence contradicted the prosecution's case.

Furthermore, the defense argued that the complainant's claim of being trapped in a moving lift did not align with expert evidence and CCTV footage.