Tarun Tejpal Convicted As Bombay High Court Reverses Acquittal In 2013 Goa Sexual Assault Case

Published 6 August 2026 · india

News india Tarun Tejpal Convicted As Bombay High Court Reverses Acquittal In 2013 Goa Sexual Assault Case Tarun Tejpal Convicted As Bombay High Court Reverses

News india Tarun Tejpal Convicted As Bombay High Court Reverses Acquittal In 2013 Goa Sexual Assault Case Tarun Tejpal Convicted As Bombay High Court Reverses Acquittal In 2013 Goa Sexual Assault Case Published By, Last Updated: August 06, 2026, 11:29 IST Bombay High Court convicts former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal in the 2013 Goa sexual assault case, setting aside his acquittal. Sentencing hearing next. Rapid Read The Bombay High Court overturned Tarun Tejpal's acquittal and convicted him in the 2013 Goa sexual assault case. (Photo: AP) The Bombay High Court on Thursday convicted former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal in the 2013 Goa sexual assault case, overturning a trial court verdict that had acquitted him on the benefit of doubt. Pronouncing the judgment, a division bench of Justice Dr Neela Gokhale and Justice Amit Jamsandekar said, “We have set aside the judgment of the trial court." The bench then directed Tejpal’s legal team to address the court on the issue of sentencing. Justice Gokhale observed, “Now Tarun Tejpal’s legal team has to address us on the point of quantum of punishment. When can you address us?" ALSO READ | ‘I Have a Wife, Please Be Lenient’: Tarun Tejpal Seeks Leniency As Court Convicts Him In Sexual Assault Case The court further declared, “We convict the accused under provisions of rape, Sections 376(2)(f) and 376(2)(k), along with Sections 354A and 354B of the Indian Penal Code." The High Court had directed Tejpal to remain present when the verdict was pronounced.

Tarun Tejpal Case: High Court Overturns Trial Court Verdict The verdict came on the Goa government’s appeal challenging a sessions court judgment that had acquitted Tejpal in May 2021, giving him the benefit of doubt. The High Court had reserved its judgment last week after hearing detailed submissions from both sides. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Goa government, argued that the trial court had committed serious errors in evaluating the survivor’s conduct through preconceived notions of how a victim of sexual assault is expected to behave. ALSO READ | No Insurance, No Fuel: Supreme Court Proposes Big Rule Change For Vehicle Owners He submitted that there is no universal standard governing a survivor’s reaction, as responses differ depending on an individual’s personality, social background, education and circumstances. Mehta also argued that the trial court placed excessive emphasis on minor inconsistencies in the complainant’s statements instead of examining whether her core allegations remained consistent. Arguments By Both Sides During the proceedings, the prosecution relied extensively on emails sent by Tejpal to the complainant after the alleged incident. According to the Solicitor General, the emails contained apologies for what Tejpal described as his “lapse of judgment", expressions of shame, and statements suggesting he believed the encounter had been consensual.