Panaji: The Bombay High Court’s Goa bench is set to deliver its verdict on Thursday on the Goa government’s appeal challenging the acquittal of former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal. This is in relation to the 2013 sexual assault case.
The court has ordered Tejpal to be present during the pronouncement. In 2013, a woman journalist had alleged that Tejpal had sexually assaulted her inside a hotel elevator.
In May 2021, a Goa sessions court acquitted Tejpal of all charges. But the Goa government subsequently challenged the acquittal before the Bombay High Court.
What Tejpal’s defence argued?
Tarun Tejpal’s defence had argued before the Bombay High Court on the following points:
Alleged that the case was fabricated
Senior advocate Aabad Ponda contended that the allegations were made to secure a Rs 1 lakh fellowship for writing a book
The defence claimed the case was politically motivated.
It also questioned complainant’s credibility
Here’s a case timeline:
2013: Allegations made against former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal by a junior colleague of being sexually assaulted inside an elevator at the Grand Hyatt hotel
Allegations became public after emails exchanged between the complainant, Tejpal and Tehelka’s then managing editor surfaced
2014: Tejpal steps down and gets arrested
2017: The trial before a Goa sessions court begins
2021: Acquitted in 2021
Goa government appeals against acquittal in the Bombay High Court.