3 weeks ago
Tarun Tejpal Convicted in 2013 Goa Assault; Newslaundry Pulls Article
A long time ago, in 2013, a woman who worked at a magazine called Tehelka said her boss, Tarun Tejpal, hurt her badly in an elevator during a work event in Goa.
Because Tejpal was a very powerful journalist, the case received huge media attention.
The woman was hurt again by an article published by a news website called Newslaundry in 2014, which blamed her and asked why she went into the elevator.
That article stayed online for 12 years and scarred her the whole time.
First, a court said Tejpal was not guilty, but later a bigger court found him guilty and sent him to prison for 10 years.
After that, people got very angry about the old article, so Newslaundry took it down and said it was a mistake.
The founder of Newslaundry, Abhinandan Sekhri, wrote a message saying sorry and that he took full responsibility.
But then he wrote another angry message making fun of other journalists who criticised him.
Many people think the apology only happened because of public pressure, not because Newslaundry truly felt sorry.
This case reminds us that we should never blame people who say they have been hurt.
The Bombay High Court at Goa overturned Tarun Tejpal's 2021 acquittal and sentenced him to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment in the 2013 sexual assault case.
The case stemmed from allegations that Tejpal, then editor-in-chief of Tehelka, sexually assaulted a colleague in an elevator at the Grand Hyatt in Bambolim, Goa, on November 7-8, 2013, during the THiNK event.
Newslaundry removed a February 2014 open letter by Nirupama Sekhri that questioned whether the survivor was a victim, after the article had remained online for 12 years.
Newslaundry's editor's clarification said the piece no longer met the values guiding its journalism, citing legal developments, the #MeToo movement and evolving public understanding of consent and trauma.
Founder Abhinandan Sekhri apologised on X on August 8, 2026, saying he takes full responsibility, but then posted a combative message aimed at media critics.
Critics noted the article and Sekhri's 2014 tweet remained online for over 36 hours after the conviction, with action coming only after renewed public outcry.
- Who
- Tarun Tejpal, former editor-in-chief of Tehelka, was convicted by the Bombay High Court at Goa; the survivor was a young Tehelka employee.
- What
- Tejpal was convicted of sexual assault and sentenced to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment, while Newslaundry removed and apologised for a 2014 victim-blaming article about the case.
- Where
- Grand Hyatt hotel in Bambolim, Goa, India; the case was heard in Goa courts and the Bombay High Court at Goa.
- When
- The assault was alleged to have occurred on November 7-8, 2013; the conviction and the removal of the article came in August 2026, more than 12 years later.
- Why
- The high court found Tejpal guilty of sexually assaulting a colleague in a position of trust and authority; Newslaundry removed the article after public criticism followed the conviction.
Critics of Newslaundry's response
Newslaundry and Abhinandan Sekhri's account
Authenticity of the apology
Critics of Newslaundry's response
The apology was forced by public backlash - the article and tweet stayed up for over 36 hours after the conviction, and removal came only after renewed outcry, making the response tokenism rather than genuine accountability.
Newslaundry and Abhinandan Sekhri's account
Sekhri said he takes full responsibility, admitted the piece 'was wrong and should not have been online for this long, if at all,' and conceded 'it took a judgement to take this call, which should not have been the case.'
The 2014 letter itself
Critics of Newslaundry's response
The letter victim-blamed the survivor, questioned whether she was a victim at all, called her 'irresponsible,' and should never have been published or kept online for 12 years.
Newslaundry and Abhinandan Sekhri's account
When it was published, the letter was amplified by Abhinandan Sekhri as 'the counter perspective on the Tehelka case,' framing questions about the survivor's conduct and describing Tejpal as the victim of a media frenzy.
Response to media critics
Critics of Newslaundry's response
Sekhri's follow-up tweet dismissing critics as 'prime time studio turnips' undercut any remorse and swapped solemn accountability for defensive social media bravado.
Newslaundry and Abhinandan Sekhri's account
Sekhri said he would continue to call out the 'hate, bile and venom' that these journalists 'serve as news,' dismissing their lectures as hollow and telling them to 'read a book, play a sport - do better.'
Key facts
- Convicted person
- Tarun Tejpal
- Role at time of allegation
- Editor-in-chief of Tehelka
- Incident
- Sexual assault alleged in hotel elevator, November 7-8, 2013
- Location
- Grand Hyatt, Bambolim, Goa
- Sentence
- 10 years' rigorous imprisonment
- Earlier verdict
- Acquitted by Goa sessions court in May 2021
- Court
- Bombay High Court at Goa
- Removed article
- 2014 Nirupama Sekhri letter on Newslaundry, removed after 12 years
Quotes
Abhinandan Sekhri
Founder’s son and former Newslaundry editor
“I have taken down my 2014 tweet. I don’t think there’s anything to say other than I take full responsibility for the piece that was published. It was wrong and should not have been online for this long on newslaundry, if at all. This is on me and me alone. I apologise to all the people who support newslaundry and my fantastic team. I’ll try and do better.”
opindia.com
Sources
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