Tarun Tejpal to Move Supreme Court After Bombay High Court Conviction in 2013 Rape Case
The Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court on Thursday convicted former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal in a 2013 sexual assault case, overturning a lower court's 2021 judgment that had acquitted him. Following the verdict, Tejpal's legal team announced plans to challenge the conviction before the Supreme Court of India.
Former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal has said he will challenge the Bombay High Court's verdict convicting him in the 2013 rape case by moving the Supreme Court. The announcement came shortly after the High Court overturned his 2021 acquittal by a Goa trial court and held him guilty in the case involving the alleged sexual assault of a former junior colleague, according to a report.
Tarun Tejpal Says Bombay High Court Verdict Will Be Challenged
Speaking after the judgment, Tejpal said his legal team would appeal the High Court's decision in the Supreme Court, maintaining that the verdict was incorrect. "We will appeal the High Court's judgment in the Supreme Court. The High Court has given a wrong order," Tejpal said after the conviction. Tarun Tejpal, Ex-Tehelka Editor, Convicted for Raping Junior Colleague in 2013.
High Court Reverses 2021 Acquittal
The Bombay High Court on Thursday convicted Tejpal in the 2013 rape case, setting aside the acquittal granted by a Goa sessions court in 2021. The High Court held him guilty after hearing the Goa government's appeal against the trial court's verdict. The court has reserved its order on the quantum of sentence, which is expected to be pronounced separately.
Case Dates Back to 2013
The case stems from allegations made by a former junior colleague, who accused Tejpal of sexually assaulting her inside an elevator at a luxury hotel in Goa during a Tehelka event in November 2013. Following the complaint, Goa Police registered a case and arrested Tejpal. He has consistently denied the allegations, maintaining that the interactions were consensual. Tarun Tejpal’s Lawyer Rajeev Gomes Dies Due to COVID-19 Related Complications at Hospital in South Goa.
Legal Battle Set to Continue
With Tejpal confirming that he will approach the Supreme Court, the case is set to enter another phase of legal proceedings. The appeal will challenge the Bombay High Court's findings that overturned the earlier acquittal in one of India's longest-running and most closely watched criminal cases involving a prominent media figure.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 06, 2026 12:37 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
