Tehelka founder Tarun Tejpal has announced that he will challenge his conviction before the Supreme Court after the Bombay High Court found him guilty in the 2013 sexual assault case involving a former colleague. The verdict overturned a 2021 Goa trial court judgment that had acquitted him of all charges.
The case was heard by a division bench comprising Justices Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamdar. Following the conviction, the court is expected to pronounce the sentence separately. Speaking after the judgment, Tejpal said he intends to file an appeal in the Supreme Court, maintaining that he has been falsely implicated.
Addressing the court, Tejpal reportedly stated that he is 62 years old, has a family, and believes the allegations against him are unjust. He requested that his case be considered with compassion while reiterating his intention to pursue legal remedies.
The case dates back to November 2013, when a former Tehelka employee accused Tejpal of sexually assaulting her inside the elevator of a luxury hotel in Goa during an official event. Goa Police later alleged that the assault occurred over two consecutive days and cited CCTV footage as part of the investigation.
Tejpal has consistently denied the allegations, claiming that the case was politically motivated. He was arrested on November 30, 2013, and spent nearly six months in judicial custody before securing bail from the Supreme Court in 2014.
Although a Goa trial court acquitted him in 2021, the Goa government challenged that verdict. The Bombay High Court has now reversed the acquittal, reviving the case and setting the stage for a fresh legal battle in the Supreme Court.
