'Political Vendetta': Tarun Tejpal's 'Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam' Defence After Conviction In Rape Case
News india 'Political Vendetta': Tarun Tejpal's 'Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam' Defence After Conviction In Rape Case 'Political Vendetta': Tarun Tejpal's 'Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam' Defence
News india 'Political Vendetta': Tarun Tejpal's 'Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam' Defence After Conviction In Rape Case 'Political Vendetta': Tarun Tejpal's 'Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam' Defence After Conviction In Rape Case Published By, Last Updated: August 06, 2026, 15:44 IST Speaking after the Bombay High Court's verdict, Tarun Tejpal confirmed that he would challenge the conviction in the Supreme Court and described himself as a "political victim." Tehelka magazine founder Tarun Tejpal. (AFP/File) Tehelka magazine founder Tarun Tejpal, who was convicted in the 2013 sexual assault case, on Thursday claimed he was being targeted for political reasons, alleging that the case against him was driven by “political vendetta." Speaking after the Bombay High Court’s verdict, Tejpal confirmed that he would challenge the conviction in the Supreme Court and described himself as a “political victim." “We will surely approach the Supreme Court. They are after me due to political vendetta and because of the work done by Tehelka. We fought the case for 7.5 years in the trial court and were acquitted. Those aligned with them are acquitted, but they target those who wrote against them. Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam have been in jail for years," he said. Tejpal further alleged that Tehelka’s investigative reporting had politically harmed the BJP, prompting a sustained campaign against him.
“They are after me with a sense of revenge for the last 13 years. I have full faith in the judiciary that there will be judges who will see the truth. We will present the evidence in public," he said. Maintaining his innocence, Tejpal added, “We believe that the evidence in the case has not been properly appreciated. We believe there is enough evidence to very clearly exonerate me, ten times over." Bombay HC Convicts Tarun Tejpal In Rape Case The Bombay High Court on Thursday convicted former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal of raping a colleague in 2013, setting aside his acquittal by a Goa sessions court five years ago, and sentenced him to ten years’ rigorous imprisonment. Justices Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar of the HC’s Goa bench initially said Tejpal shall surrender within two weeks, but following a request from his lawyers, the court extended the time to four weeks. The court, while imposing the minimum punishment, said the incident occurred 13 years ago, and Tejpal has since then not committed any other offence. “Both parties (victim and Tejpal) may have moved on in life now," it observed. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,21,000 on Tejpal, which would be paid to the victim.
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