Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Tarun Tejpal Convicted in 2013 Rape Case; Mother Relieved
A court in India decided that a man named Tarun Tejpal did something very wrong.
He used to be the boss of a news magazine called Tehelka.
The court said he hurt a woman who used to work with him.
This happened in a hotel elevator back in 2013.
A different court had earlier said he was not guilty, but the new court said that was wrong.
The woman's mother is very happy with the court's decision and said it took a lot of strength to wait all these years.
Mr. Tejpal says he is not guilty and wants to ask a bigger court, the Supreme Court, to look at the case.
The lawyers for the state asked the court to give him the strongest punishment.
They said that when a girl says no, it means no.
The Bombay High Court's Goa bench convicted former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal, 62, of raping a former colleague in 2013, setting aside his acquittal by a Goa sessions court five years ago.
The survivor's mother said the verdict "lifted a heavy weight" from her heart after painful years that took "a lot of strength" to endure.
Tejpal said he will approach the Supreme Court, asserting the judgment was "wrong," and asked the court for leniency, saying he believes he is a victim.
The survivor said Tejpal assaulted her twice in a hotel elevator on November 7 and 8, 2013, during ThinkFest, an annual event sponsored by the magazine; he was arrested on November 30, 2013.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Goa state, urged maximum punishment, arguing "a no means a no" and that a precedent must be set.
- Who
- Tarun Tejpal, former editor of Tehelka magazine, was convicted; the survivor, a former colleague whose identity is protected by law; her mother; and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the Goa state.
- What
- Tejpal was convicted of raping a former colleague in 2013, with the Bombay High Court's Goa bench setting aside his earlier acquittal by a Goa sessions court.
- When
- The assaults took place on November 7-8, 2013; Tejpal was arrested on November 30, 2013.
- Where
- Goa, India; the assaults occurred in a hotel elevator during ThinkFest, an annual event sponsored by Tehelka.
- Why
- The court found Tejpal guilty of raping his colleague, and the prosecution argued he ignored the victim's refusal and that a precedent must be set.
Prosecution's Position
Tejpal's Position
Guilt
Prosecution's Position
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued Tejpal "could not take a no for a no" and committed the offence despite the victim being his daughter's age, saying he was a father figure who should not have indulged in it.
Tejpal's Position
Tejpal said he believes he is a victim and that the High Court's judgment was "wrong," having earlier described the charges as a "political vendetta."
Sentencing
Prosecution's Position
The prosecution urged maximum punishment, saying a precedent must be set so society understands that "when a girl says no, it means no."
Tejpal's Position
Tejpal asked for leniency, noting he is 62, and said he would appeal to the Supreme Court.
- Convicted
- Tarun Tejpal, former editor of Tehelka magazine
- Court
- Bombay High Court, Goa bench
- Offence
- Rape of a former colleague
- Incident dates
- November 7-8, 2013, in a hotel elevator during ThinkFest
- Arrest date
- November 30, 2013
- Age of Tejpal
- 62
- Previous verdict
- Acquitted by Goa sessions court five years ago; acquittal set aside
- Next step
- Tejpal plans to appeal to the Supreme Court