The High Court of Bombay in Goa sentenced former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment on Thursday afternoon. The court also ordered Tejpal to pay a fine of ₹10 lakh following his conviction in a 2013 sexual assault case involving a junior female colleague.
The sentencing order came hours after the court formally overturned a 2021 Goa trial court judgment that had previously acquitted Tejpal of all charges. The High Court bench pronounced the quantum of punishment after hearing brief arguments on sentencing from both sides during the afternoon session.
Mandatory Minimum Sentence Awarded Under Statutory Provisions
The High Court awarded the statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years under specific provisions of the Indian Penal Code governing offences committed by persons in positions of authority or trust. These statutory provisions carry a penalty ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment.
During the sentencing hearing, Tejpal urged the court to grant leniency while citing his advance age and health condition. However, the prosecution strongly pushed for strict punishment, pointing to the gravity of the offense and the abuse of a dominant position within a professional organization.
Reversal of Lower Court Acquittal Concludes Long Legal Battle
The sentencing marks a major turning point in a legal battle that spans over a decade. In May 2021, a Goa sessions court had acquitted Tejpal, claiming the victim’s post-incident behavior did not match expected norms of trauma.
The Goa state government subsequently appealed the acquittal, describing the trial court’s logic as perverse.
In its judgment, the High Court accepted the state’s arguments and found Tejpal guilty of rape, sexual harassment, and criminal force. Following the sentencing order, law enforcement authorities took Tejpal into custody to begin serving his prison term.
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