tarun-tejpal-moves-sc-against-10-year-sentence-in-rape-case

Former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Bombay High Court’s August 6 verdict convicting him of raping a junior colleague in 2013 and sentencing him to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment.

Tejpal’s appeal comes days after the Goa government approached the Supreme Court seeking enhancement of his sentence to life imprisonment. The state has argued that the 10-year sentence imposed by the high court is “grossly disproportionate” to the gravity of the offence.

 

The Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court had on August 6 overturned Tejpal’s acquittal by a trial court in 2021, describing the earlier judgment as “untenable” and “perverse”. The high court held that the trial court had erred in its assessment of the victim’s testimony and the evidence presented by the prosecution.

 

The high court had also directed Tejpal to pay a fine of Rs 10.21 lakh, with the amount to be given to the victim.

 

In its judgment, the high court said the victim’s testimony was natural, credible and sufficient to establish the prosecution’s case beyond reasonable doubt. It also criticised the trial court for applying the notion of a “perfect victim” while assessing her conduct and testimony.

Also read: Tehelka founder Tarun Tejpal gets 10-year jail term in rape case

 

The case dates back to November 2013, when the woman complained to Tejpal’s then managing editor about incidents that allegedly took place on November 7 and 8 that year. The following day, Tejpal sent her a formal apology, describing the incident as a “shameful lapse of judgment”.

 

He was arrested on November 30, 2013, and the Goa Police Crime Branch filed a chargesheet in February 2014. The Supreme Court granted him bail in July 2014.

 

The prosecution relied on the victim’s statements, accounts of colleagues and electronic evidence, including CCTV footage, emails and WhatsApp messages.

 

In May 2021, a special court in Mapusa acquitted Tejpal, citing contradictions and omissions in the victim’s testimony and holding that the allegations were not sufficiently corroborated.

 

The high court, however, rejected that assessment, saying the trial court’s appreciation of evidence was unreasonable and that its conclusions were not a possible view on the material before it.

 

Tejpal has maintained that he was politically victimised. His challenge before the Supreme Court will now seek a review of the high court’s conviction and sentence.