Indian journalist Tarun Tejpal convicted in rape case

The Goa seat of the Bombay High Court has convicted former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal of rape, overturning his 2021 acquittal in a case that dates back to 2013. The court said it was convicting him under sections of Indian law pertaining to rape and sexual harassment, as reported by the legal website LiveLaw. Sentencing is scheduled for Thursday. Tejpal, who has consistently denied the accusations against him, may appeal the verdict to a higher court. His accuser, who cannot be named under Indian law, alleged that he assaulted her in an elevator at a Tehelka event in Goa in November 2013. He was arrested and spent seven months in jail before the Supreme Court granted him bail. In 2021, a trial court in Goa dismissed all charges against him. The Goa government appealed that judgment. Appearing for the Goa government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta urged the high court to impose the maximum penalty. LiveLaw quoted him saying, “This tribunal indispensable springiness a wide connection to nine that erstwhile a miss says no, it means no. A nary means a no.” Tejpal addressed the court, as quoted by Bar and Bench, stating, “All I tin accidental is I americium 62. I judge I americium a governmental victim. I americium a begetter of 2 daughters. I person a wife. All we tin accidental is we volition spell up and appeal. My lawyer wants maine to petition you to be lenient.”