Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Tarun Tejpal Sentenced to 10 Years for Raping Colleague
A very important magazine boss in India was found guilty of hurting a woman who worked for him.
His name is Tarun Tejpal, and he used to be the boss of a news magazine called Tehelka.
The bad thing happened in 2013 in Goa, when he attacked a woman who worked for his magazine in the elevator of a big hotel.
For a while, one court said he was not guilty, but later a higher court said he was guilty.
The higher court decided he should go to prison for 10 years.
Part of the reason was a letter he wrote to the woman, where he said sorry and admitted he knew he was her boss.
In the letter, he also said he thought the woman wanted his attention, but she did not.
After the court's decision, he said he was being punished because of politics and revenge, not because he did something wrong.
He said he believes other judges will see the truth.
Tarun Tejpal, founder and former editor of Tehelka Magazine, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for raping a junior colleague.
The assaults occurred on November 7 and 8, 2013, in an elevator at a five-star hotel in Goa during the magazine's ThinkFest event.
A trial court acquitted Tejpal in May 2021, but the Bombay High Court set aside the acquittal and convicted him after the Goa government appealed.
Prosecutors cited an email in which Tejpal apologized for his 'lapse of judgment,' acknowledged the power imbalance, and claimed he believed the encounters were consensual.
Tejpal alleged he is being targeted by a political vendetta over Tehelka's work, saying the evidence should have led to his acquittal '10 times over.'
- Who
- Tarun Tejpal, founder and former editor-in-chief of Tehelka Magazine, convicted of raping a junior colleague.
- What
- Tejpal was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison for rape, with the Bombay High Court overturning an earlier acquittal.
- When
- The assaults occurred on November 7 and 8, 2013; the trial court acquitted him in May 2021, and he was convicted and sentenced on Thursday.
- Where
- In an elevator of a five-star hotel in Goa, during the ThinkFest event organized by Tehelka Magazine.
- Why
- The prosecution argued Tejpal's apology email amounted to an admission that the incidents occurred, while Tejpal claimed he is being pursued due to a political vendetta.
Prosecution's View
Defense's View
The email as evidence
Prosecution's View
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued Tejpal's email, with its apology for a 'lapse of judgment' and shame, amounted to an admission that the incidents occurred.
Defense's View
Tejpal's advocate Abad Ponda said the email referred only to consensual verbal conversations of a sexual nature, not an admission of rape.
Reason for prosecution
Prosecution's View
The Bombay High Court conviction rests on evidence of sexual assault presented by the prosecution after the Goa government appealed the acquittal.
Defense's View
Tejpal claimed people are after him due to a political vendetta and revenge over Tehelka's work, and said the evidence should have acquitted him '10 times over.'
- Convicted person
- Tarun Tejpal, founder and former editor-in-chief of Tehelka Magazine
- Sentence
- 10 years in prison
- Survivor
- A junior colleague at Tehelka Magazine
- Incident date
- November 7 and 8, 2013
- Incident location
- Elevator of a five-star hotel in Goa
- Event
- ThinkFest, organized by Tehelka Magazine
- Initial verdict
- Acquitted by trial court in May 2021
- Appeals court
- Bombay High Court, which set aside the acquittal and convicted him