Former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Bombay High Court’s August 6, 2026 judgment that overturned his acquittal and convicted him in the 2013 case. He has also challenged the 10-year rigorous imprisonment sentence imposed by the High Court.
Background Of The Case
The case arose from allegations concerning an incident involving a junior Tehelka colleague at a Goa hotel during the magazine’s THiNK Fest in November 2013. A Goa Sessions Court acquitted Tejpal in May 2021. The State of Goa later appealed against that decision.
On August 6, the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court, comprising Justice Dr. Neela Gokhale and Justice Amit S. Jamsandekar, allowed the State’s appeal and set aside the acquittal. The judgment was delivered in State of Goa v. Tarunjit Tejpal, Criminal Appeal No. 16 of 2022.
While reassessing the evidence, the High Court rejected the idea that a survivor must respond to an alleged sexual assault in a stereotypical manner.
The Court observed,
“these concepts of a perfect victim are a myth” and said credibility must be assessed from the facts rather than a narrow cultural expectation.
The Court ultimately convicted Tejpal under Sections 376(2)(f), 376(2)(k), 354, 354A, 354B, 341 and 342 of the IPC.
The High Court sentenced Tejpal to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment for the rape-related provisions, with the sentences running concurrently, and granted him four weeks to surrender.
Tejpal has now challenged that conviction and sentence before the Supreme Court.
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