'I'm One Of Them': Why Rape Convict Tarun Tejpal Likened Himself To Jailed Umar Khalid And Sharjeel Imam

Tarun Tejpal Case: The Bombay High Court on Thursday convicted senior journalist Tarun Tejpal, former editor of the popular magazine "Tehelka," in a 2013 rape case and sentenced him to 10 years in prison. Following the court's verdict, Tejpal claimed that he was framed for political reasons and that he had enough evidence to prove he should have been acquitted in the case at least ten times.

Speaking to reporters after the sentencing, 62-year-old Tejpal said that he had been treated with vengeance for the past 13 years. He said, "I have faith in the entire judiciary that there will be a judge who will see the truth. We will present all the evidence to the public. I have enough evidence to prove I should have been acquitted ten times." Tejpal clarified his stance, saying he will now appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.

Panaji, Goa: The Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court sentenced former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment in the 2013 sexual assault case

He says, "We are going to appeal against the decision. We are very disappointed. We believe the evidence in… pic.twitter.com/rR4OjTsWJX

— IANS (@ians_india) August 6, 2026

Tejpal Compares Himself To Umar Khalid And Sharjeel Imam

Further, while presenting his case, Tejpal cited Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, who are currently in jail in connection with the Delhi riots, saying he is a political victim. He described himself as similar to them, saying, "Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam have been in jail for years. I am one of them. Tehelka's past reporting, such as the 2001 'Operation West End' sting operation, caused political damage to many people, which is why they are after us."

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Tejpal Calls Himself A Victim In Court

Tejpal, during the court hearing, described himself as a victim and appealed to the judge for leniency. He said, "I am 62 years old, and I am a victim. I have a wife, and I have nothing else to say."

What Is The Whole Matter?

It's worth noting that this entire case dates back to November 2013. Tehelka magazine had organised an annual event called "Thinkfest" in Goa. During this event, Tejpal had sexually assaulted a junior colleague twice in the hotel elevator on November 7 and 8.

ALSO READ: Major Setback For Tarun Tejpal: Court Reverses Acquittal, Convicts Ex-Tehelka Editor In 2013 Junior Colleague Rape Case

After the complaint surfaced, he was arrested in late November 2013. Initially, Tejpal expressed regret for the incident and attributed it to a misjudgement of the situation, but later retracted his claim and called it a political conspiracy.

What Victim's Mother Said

On the other hand, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Goa government, strongly objected to the court, stating that Tejpal did not understand the word "no," and therefore, he should be given the maximum sentence. The victim's mother, meanwhile, breathed a sigh of relief after the verdict. She said, "The verdict is like a huge burden being lifted from my heart. These were long and painful years that took a lot of courage to fight through. I thank the Goa government and their lawyers who supported us and fought for justice."

(With Jagran.com inputs)