On August 6, 2026, the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court convicted former Tehelka magazine editor Tarun Tejpal, sentencing him to 10 years in prison for raping a former colleague in 2013. The court also ordered Tejpal to pay fines totaling over 1 million rupees. Tejpal, a well-known journalist and author, has denied the accusations and plans to file an appeal in the Supreme Court. The allegations against Tejpal, which made national headlines in 2013, stem from an incident during Tehelka’s international conference in Goa, where he allegedly sexually assaulted a colleague in a lift. The conference, attended by notable figures such as Robert De Niro, was a high-profile event. Tejpal’s accuser, whose identity is protected under Indian law, reported the incident, leading to Tejpal’s arrest in 2013. He spent seven months in jail before being granted bail by the Supreme Court. In 2021, a sessions court in Goa acquitted Tejpal, but the judge’s observations sparked criticism, prompting the Goa government to appeal the decision. The high court’s ruling overturns the acquittal, with the court convicting Tejpal under sections of Indian law related to rape and sexual harassment. Tejpal’s magazine, Tehelka, was known for its investigative journalism, including sting operations that exposed corruption among senior officials. The case has drawn attention to the issue of sexual violence in India, with the solicitor general urging the court to send a clear message that a woman’s ‘no’ must be respected.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: BBC World