Archive · 9 Aug 2026
Bombay High Court Convicts Tehelka Founder Tarun Tejpal of Rape
A very important court in India has decided that a famous man did something very bad.
His name is Tarun Tejpal, and he started a big news magazine called Tehelka.
The court said he hurt a woman who worked with him.
Because he was her boss, the law says this is especially wrong.
The court found him guilty of serious crimes.
Before this, another court had said he was not guilty.
Many people thought that first decision was wrong and unfair to the woman.
Those people said the first court blamed the woman instead of the man.
Now the higher court changed the decision and said he is guilty.
This shows that people in charge cannot hurt others and get away with it.
On 6 August, the Bombay High Court's Goa Bench convicted Tehelka founder Tarun Tejpal of rape and other sexual offences.
He was convicted under Sections 376(2)(f) and (k) of the IPC, covering rape by a person in a position of authority and control or dominance.
He was also convicted of assault with intent to disrobe a woman (Section 354A) and sexual harassment (Section 354B).
The High Court set aside the 2021 acquittal by the Additional Sessions Judge at Mapusa, Goa.
The article criticises the earlier trial court judgment for relying on assumptions about 'ideal victimhood' and putting the victim on trial, while noting the limits of criminal justice reform.
- Who
- Tarun Tejpal, founder of Tehelka, was the person convicted; a two-judge bench of the Bombay High Court's Goa Bench delivered the verdict.
- What
- Convicted of rape by a person in a position of authority and control/dominance (IPC Sections 376(2)(f) and (k)), assault with intent to disrobe a woman (Section 354A) and sexual harassment (Section 354B).
- When
- On 6 August; the verdict set aside the earlier acquittal passed in 2021.
- Where
- Bombay High Court's Goa Bench; the earlier acquittal was by the Additional Sessions Judge at Mapusa, Goa.
- Why
- The High Court found him guilty of sexual offences committed from a position of authority and rejected the trial court's reliance on assumptions about 'ideal victimhood.'
- Convicted person
- Tarun Tejpal, founder of Tehelka
- Court
- Bombay High Court, Goa Bench (two-judge bench)
- Verdict date
- 6 August
- Key IPC sections
- 376(2)(f), 376(2)(k), 354A, 354B
- Offences
- Rape by a person in authority, assault with intent to disrobe, sexual harassment
- Earlier verdict
- Acquitted in 2021 by the Additional Sessions Judge, Mapusa, Goa