A court in India has sentenced former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment after convicting him of raping a female colleague during an event in Goa in 2013.
The Bombay High Court’s Goa bench overturned Tejpal’s 2021 acquittal by a trial court, finding him guilty in the high-profile case that sparked nationwide debate about workplace safety and sexual harassment in India.
Tejpal, 62, has maintained his innocence and said he will challenge the conviction in the Supreme Court, describing himself as a political victim.
The court has directed Tejpal to surrender within four weeks to begin serving his sentence.
The case dates back to November 2013, when a female colleague accused Tejpal of sexually assaulting and raping her during a conference in Goa. Under Indian law, the complainant’s identity has not been disclosed to protect her privacy.
Tejpal co-founded the investigative magazine Tehelka, which gained national prominence for exposing corruption and abuse of power through a series of high-profile investigations.
The conviction marks a significant development in one of India’s most closely watched sexual assault cases and is expected to be appealed before the country’s highest court.
