Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Ex-Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal convicted in 2013 sexual assault case
A famous news magazine founder named Tarun Tejpal was found guilty by a big court of hurting one of his former co-workers a very long time ago.
The bad thing happened in 2013 at a news event in Goa, India.
Earlier, a smaller court said he was not guilty, but a bigger court disagreed.
The bigger court said he must go to jail for 10 years.
He has two weeks to go to the police and start his punishment.
Mr. Tejpal says he did not do it and that people are blaming him to get back at him for the work his magazine did.
The government says the first court made a mistake and believed the person who said she was hurt.
Mr. Tejpal wants to ask the highest court in India, the Supreme Court, to look at the case one more time.
This whole case has lasted nearly 13 years.
The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court convicted Tarun Tejpal, reversing his May 2021 acquittal by a Goa sessions court.
A division bench of Justices Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar sentenced Tejpal to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment with fines under Indian Penal Code provisions, sentences to run concurrently.
Tejpal has been given two weeks to surrender and said he will approach the Supreme Court, alleging a political vendetta.
The case stems from allegations by a former junior colleague that Tejpal sexually assaulted her in a hotel elevator during Tehelka's ThinkFest event in Goa on November 7-8, 2013.
The Goa government had challenged the acquittal, arguing the trial court erred in assessing the survivor's testimony and relied on stereotypes about sexual assault victims.
- Who
- Tarun Tejpal, founder and former editor of Tehelka magazine, convicted by a division bench of Justices Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar.
- What
- The Bombay High Court's Goa bench convicted Tejpal of sexual assault and sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment, overturning his earlier acquittal.
- When
- The verdict and sentencing took place on August 6, 2026; the alleged incident occurred on November 7-8, 2013.
- Where
- Goa, India, before the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court.
- Why
- The court found Tejpal guilty in the 2013 sexual assault case, while Tejpal claims the prosecution is due to a political vendetta over Tehelka's work.
Court and prosecution view
Tejpal's defense view
Guilt in the 2013 sexual assault case
Court and prosecution view
The Bombay High Court found Tejpal guilty and the Goa government argued the trial court erred in assessing the survivor's testimony and relied on stereotypes about how a sexual assault victim should behave.
Tejpal's defense view
Tejpal maintains his innocence, insists the trial court acquittal after 7.5 years of litigation was correct, and says he will present the evidence in public.
Motive behind the prosecution
Court and prosecution view
The case followed the normal legal process, including an FIR, arrest, bail, trial, and a state appeal against the acquittal.
Tejpal's defense view
Tejpal claims he is being targeted due to a 'political vendetta' and the investigative work done by Tehelka, noting that 'those with them are acquitted, but they are after those who wrote against them.'
- Convicted
- Tarun Tejpal, founder of Tehelka magazine
- Court
- Goa bench of the Bombay High Court
- Sentence
- 10 years rigorous imprisonment plus fines under IPC provisions, running concurrently
- Case origin
- November 2013 accusation of sexual assault during Tehelka's ThinkFest event in Goa
- Previous verdict
- Acquitted by a Goa sessions court in May 2021
- Surrender deadline
- Two weeks from the verdict
- Next step
- Appeal to the Supreme Court
- Presiding judges
- Justices Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar