SC to Hear Tarun Tejpal's Rape Conviction Challenge: Goa Responds
SC to Hear Tarun Tejpal's Rape Conviction Challenge: Goa Responds
Former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal's rape conviction case reaches the Supreme Court. SC seeks Goa's response as Tejpal challenges his 10-year sentence. Get the latest details on this high-profile legal battle.
The Supreme Court has stepped into the spotlight regarding the ongoing legal battle of former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal. On Friday, the apex court sought a response from the Goa government concerning Tejpal's petition, which challenges his conviction in a 2013 rape case. This development comes after Tejpal surrendered on September 14, following the Supreme Court's directive last month for him to begin serving his 10-year prison sentence.
A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale issued notice on Tejpal's petition.
Notably, the Goa government has also filed its own appeal, seeking an enhancement of the 10-year sentence awarded by the Bombay High Court's Goa bench on August 6. This indicates a strong stance from the state, with Solicitor General Tushar Mehta representing Goa and asserting the seriousness of the rape charge, even suggesting a life sentence.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Tejpal, highlighted that this case involves the reversal of an acquittal and requested an early hearing, though the bench stated it would schedule the matter as soon as possible without committing to the requested timeline.
The case dates back to November 2013, when a junior Tehelka employee accused Tejpal of sexually assaulting her inside an elevator at a Goa resort during the organization's annual Thinkfest event. After an investigation, Tejpal was prosecuted under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including those related to rape and criminal assault.
While a trial court in Goa initially acquitted him in 2021, the High Court overturned this decision, describing the trial court's judgment as “perverse” and ultimately convicting him based on the victim's testimony and corroborating evidence.
Currently, Tejpal is in jail after surrendering to begin his sentence.
In his petition, he has reportedly urged the court to consider that both the victim and he have moved on with their lives, and he now has a family, including two daughters, to care for.
The Supreme Court is expected to set a specific date to hear both Tejpal's appeal against his conviction and the Goa government's plea for a stricter sentence, marking a crucial phase in this widely followed legal saga.
