- By Nidhi Giri
- Thu, 06 Aug 2026 02:48 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
- Tarun Tejpal sentenced to 10 years in jail.
- Convicted in 2013 rape case in Goa.
- Verdict by Goa bench of Bombay High Court.
Tehelka magazine founder Tarun Tejpal was sentenced to 10 years of jail on Thursday in a rape case filed by his junior colleague in 2013.
"I am 62 years old and I believe I am a victim. I have a wife and there is nothing more to say. All I can say is that we can appeal. Please be lenient towards me. The rest of the facts are on record." Tarun Tejpal said before the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court.
Tejpal initially expressed regret over the incident, saying it was the result of a misunderstanding of the situation. However, after the allegations surfaced, he said he was the victim of political vendetta.
During the hearing, when the judge asked if there were any other cases against Tejpal, Tejpal's lawyer replied, "Sir, there has been no FIR, complaint or misconduct."
What's The 2013 Case Involving Tejpal?
Tehelka magazine editor Tarun Tejpal is involved in a case involving his former female junior colleague, in which the woman alleged that senior journalist had sexually assaulted her in the hotel lift during the 'Thinkfest' event at a hotel in Goa on November 7 and 8, 2013.
On September 29, 2017, the court had charged Tejpal with various Sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including rape, sexual harassment, and wrongful confinement. He had pleaded not guilty and moved the Supreme Court seeking quashing of the charges levelled against him. However, the Apex Court refused to quash the charges and directed the trial to be concluded within six months.
In May 2021, a Goa sessions court acquitted Tejpal of all charges, ruling that the prosecution failed to establish its case beyond a reasonable doubt. The trial court noted a lack of medical evidence and heavily factored in personal messages exchanged between the complainant and Tejpal. The court concluded that the communications did not show she was traumatised by the alleged assault. Following this, the Goa government had then challenged the acquittal before the Bombay High Court, seeking to have the trial court's judgment set aside.