'Please be lenient for me': Bombay HC convicts ex-Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal in 2013 rape case

Former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal was convicted by the Bombay High Court on Thursday in the 2013 rape case filed by his former junior colleague, overturning his acquittal by a trial court four years ago. The verdict came after the Goa government challenged the 2021 judgment that had cleared him of the charges.

A bench of Justices Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar of the HC's Goa bench said it would pronounce its order on sentencing in the afternoon. The High Court's decision marks a major turn in a case that has remained in the spotlight for over a decade.

High Court reverses trial court's acquittal

A division bench of Justices Dr Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar delivered the verdict after hearing arguments from both sides.

Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta appeared for the Goa government, while senior advocate Abad Ponda represented Tejpal.

The case relates to allegations made by a former junior colleague, who accused Tejpal of sexually assaulting her inside a hotel elevator during the ThinkFest event in Goa in November 2013.

The trial began in a Mapusa court in 2017. Tejpal was acquitted in 2021, following which the Goa government filed an appeal before the High Court.

State challenged reasoning behind acquittal

During the hearing, Mehta argued that the sessions court had wrongly assessed the complainant's conduct based on preconceived notions of how a survivor of sexual assault should react.

In its acquittal order, the trial court had said the complainant did not demonstrate any kind of "normative behaviour" that a survivor of sexual assault "might plausibly show".

The Solicitor General argued that there is no universal standard for how a survivor responds, saying reactions vary depending on an individual's education, personality, social background and circumstances.

Mehta seeks arrest, Tejpal pleads for leniency

Following the conviction, Mehta urged the court to order Tejpal's immediate arrest.

"Despite the victim being his daughter's age, he committed an offence. He was a father figure for the victim and should have not indulged into this (crime). A precedent must be set. Victim refused but he kept advancing. This court must give out a clear message to the society that when a girl says no, it means no," Mehta argued in court.

Addressing the court after the conviction, Tejpal sought leniency and requested time to challenge the verdict.

"I am 62 and I believe I am a victim. I have a wife and there's not much else to say. All that I can say is we can go and appeal. Please be lenient for me. Rest all facts are placed on record," Tejpal said in the court.

The High Court is expected to pronounce its order on sentencing at 2:30 pm.