Bombay High Court Sentences Journalist Tarun Tejpal To 10 Years Imprisonment In 2013 Rape Case
The Bombay High Court Goa Bench on Thursday (August 6) sentenced journalist Tarun Tejpal to 10 years rigorous imprisonment in a rape case lodged against him by a junior colleague in November 2013.
The sentence is imposed under sections 376(2)(f) (aggravated rape committed by a person in a fiduciary or authority relationship) and 376(2)(k) (aggravated rape committed by a person who is in a position of control or dominance over the victim) of IPC.
10 years imprisonment is the minimum prescribed sentence for the said offences.
A division bench of Justice Dr Neela Gokhale and Justice Amit Jamsandekar further sentenced him to one year imprisonment under section 354A (sexual harassment) IPC and two years under section 354B (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe) IPC.
For the offence punishable under section 376 (2) (f), the court sentenced Tejpal to 10 years rigourous imprisonment (RI) along with fine of Rs 5 lakh.
For the offence punishable under 376 (2) (k), Tejpal was sentenced to 10 years RI and along with fine of Rs 5 Lakh.
For the offence punishable under Section 354 (a),Tejpal was sentenced to 1 year RI and for offence under Section 354 (b), he was sentenced to 3 years RI along with fine of Rs 10,000. For the offences punishable under sections 341 and 342, a total fine of Rs 1000 was imposed on Tejpal.
All sentences will run concurrently.
The Court had earlier today set aside the judgment of a Sessions Court in Mapusa which had acquitted Tehelka Magazine's former editor-in-chief, thereby allowing the appeal filed by the Goa Government.
A detailed copy of the judgment is yet to be made available.
Special Judge Kshama Joshi of the Mapusa Court had in May 2021 acquitted Tejpal of all the charges in the alleged sexual assault and rape case of a junior colleague working with him. The Court found that there was no material on record to corroborate the allegations levelled by the victim of the offence against Tejpal.
Notably, the victim had on November 18, 2013, complained to Tehelka's then managing editor, another acclaimed journalist - Shoma Chaudhry. The next day, in a long email, Tejpal sent a formal apology to the victim in which he said, "I apologise unconditionally for the shameful lapse of judgement that led me to attempt a sexual liaison with you on two occasions on November 7 and November 8 2013, despite your clear reluctance that you did not want such attention from me."
Case Title: State of Goa vs Tarunjit Tejpal (CRIA/16/2022)