Former Tehelka Editor Tejpal Surrenders Before Goa Court, Sent To Jail

New Delhi: Former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal surrendered before an Additional Sessions Court in Mapusa, Goa, on Monday to serve his 10-year rigorous imprisonment sentence in a 2013 sexual assault case and was subsequently sent to Central Jail at Colvale in North Goa.

Tejpal’s surrender came after the Supreme Court on August 25 directed him to surrender within three weeks. The apex court had rejected his plea seeking exemption from surrender while agreeing to hear his appeal against the conviction and sentence on September 22, subject to the filing of his surrender certificate.

The Bombay High Court, on August 6, overturned Tejpal’s acquittal by the trial court and convicted him of sexually assaulting a junior colleague inside a hotel elevator in Goa in November 2013. It sentenced him to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of over Rs 10 lakh, payable to the survivor.

The trial court had acquitted Tejpal in May 2021, observing that the prosecution had failed to establish the charges beyond reasonable doubt. The Goa government subsequently challenged the acquittal before the High Court.

While reversing the trial court verdict, the High Court relied on the survivor’s testimony and other evidence, including CCTV footage and emails exchanged after the alleged incidents. It also rejected the defence claim that the allegations were part of an attempt at extortion or character assassination.

Tejpal has challenged the High Court verdict in the Supreme Court, while the Goa government has separately sought enhancement of his sentence to life imprisonment, arguing that the 10-year term was disproportionate to the gravity of the offences. (Agencies)