Bombay High Court Convicts Tarun Tejpal In 2013 Rape Case; Overturns Trial Court Verdict

New Delhi: The Bombay High Court on Thursday convicted the founder of Tehelka, Tarun Tejpal, in the 2013 rape case by reversing the acquittal order delivered by the Goa trial court in 2021. The sentencing in the case will happen at 2:30 pm today. This case pertains to November 2013 when an employee of Tehelka claimed that he had raped her in an elevator of a Goa resort, which was hosting the annual Thinkfest event of Tehelka.

What has the court said?

The bench comprising Justices Dr Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar held on Thursday said that Tarun Tejpal was guilty of committing rape and sexual harassment under Sections 376(2)(f) and 376(2)(k) and Sections 354 A and 354 B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

"We have set aside the judgment and order and convicted Tejpal," said the Bombay High Court.

Former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal convicted for rape and outraging modesty of woman pic.twitter.com/5hB0mUb6Jt

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 6, 2026

What does this case entail?

This case pertains to a complaint levelled against Tejpal in connection with sexual assault of his former junior colleague in the lift of a hotel in the Thinkfest in Goa during November 2013.

After Tejpal got acquittal in all the cases that were filed against him in the lower court, the government of Goa filed an appeal case against Tejpal in the High Court last week. The case was put off in the High Court last week following the hearing of the arguments by Tushar Mehta, solicitor general and senior advocate Abad Ponda on behalf of Tejpal.

What did the government argue?

On behalf of the state government, Tushar Mehta presented the arguments. He said that the Sessions Court had made a mistake by considering the complainant's behavior based on some preconceived notion of how a woman assaulted sexually should act.

The Solicitor General argued that there could be no universal standard for a sexual assault victim's response, as it could vary depending on the individual's education, personality, social background, and circumstances.