Tarun Tejpal challenges Bombay HC conviction in 2013 rape case in Supreme Court

Tarun Tejpal, former editor-in-chief of Tehelka magazine, has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Bombay High Court verdict that overturned his acquittal and upheld his conviction in a 2013 rape case.

Tejpal filed the challenge on Thursday, seeking relief against the August 6 judgment of the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court.

Bombay HC overturned acquittal

The case relates to a complaint filed in November 2013 by a junior colleague of Tejpal. A Sessions Court in Mapusa had earlier acquitted him in the case.

The Bombay High Court subsequently set aside that acquittal and convicted Tejpal, sentencing him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposing a penalty of Rs 10 lakh.

The High Court found the complainant’s testimony credible and reliable. It also observed that Tejpal, who is 63, was in a position of “trust, authority, and dominance".

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The court’s judgment differed sharply from the approach taken by the Sessions Court while examining the evidence and the complainant’s testimony.

HC flags focus on victim’s character

The Bombay High Court expressed concern over the extent to which the Sessions Court had examined the complainant’s character during the trial.

“The victim and the respondent appeared to be on trial", the High Court said while criticising the approach adopted by the lower court.

It also raised concerns over what it described as “invasive" and “repetitive cross-examination" during the proceedings.

According to the High Court, the case could not be examined without considering the power dynamics involved and the alleged abuse of authority.

Tejpal challenges conviction in SC

The latest move takes the case to the Supreme Court, where Tejpal has challenged the Bombay High Court’s decision.

The former Tehelka editor had been acquitted by the Sessions Court before the High Court reversed that decision. The Bombay High Court’s August 6 ruling held that the complainant’s account was credible and reliable and imposed a 10-year prison sentence.

The Supreme Court will now consider Tejpal’s challenge to the High Court verdict. The matter concerns the conviction arising from the 2013 complaint and the sentence imposed by the High Court.