Bombay High Court Convicts Tarun Tejpal for Rape in 2013 Sexual Assault Case

The Bombay High Court on August 6 reversed the acquittal of former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal in the 2013 sexual assault case and declared him guilty. [State of Goa v. Tarunjit Tejpal & Anr].A division bench of Justices Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar pronounced the verdict on the appeal filed by State of Goa in 2022."We have set aside the judgment and order and convicted Tejpal. We have convicted him under sections 376(2)(f) and (k), 354A, 354B of IPC," the Bench said.Section 376(2)(f) criminalises rape by a relative, guardian or teacher or a person in a position of trust or authority towards the woman. Section 354A criminalises sexual harassment which could be physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures or a demand or request for sexual favours.Section 354B criminalises assault or use of criminal force against a woman with the intent to disrobe her.The Court will hear the matter on sentencing of Tejpal later today.Justice Neela Gokhale and Justice Amit JamsandekarDuring the hearings, the State had alleged that the trial court’s judgment was perverse and coloured by prejudice. Tejpal maintained that the acquittal was based on a careful reading of the record, including CCTV footage, messages and expert evidence.The case dates back to 2013, when Tejpal was accused of sexually assaulting a junior colleague in an elevator of a high-end hotel in Goa.The Goa Police subsequently registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Tejpal