An Indian court has convicted and sentenced Tarun Tejpal, the former editor of investigative magazine Tehelka, to 10 years in prison for raping a junior colleague in 2013, overturning his earlier acquittal.
Key facts
- Tarun Tejpal, 63, was founder and former editor of Tehelka magazine.
- He was accused of raping a junior journalist in a hotel lift in Goa in November 2013.
- A court overturned his 2021 acquittal and sentenced him to 10 years in prison.
- Tejpal was arrested and spent seven months in jail before being granted bail by the supreme court.
- Tejpal says he will appeal the conviction at the Supreme Court.
An Indian court has sentenced Tarun Tejpal, the high-profile former editor of investigative news magazine Tehelka, to 10 years in prison after convicting him of raping a junior colleague, according to the Guardian. The ruling overturns his acquittal in 2021 in a case that drew nationwide attention.
Tejpal, 63, is the founder and former editor of Tehelka. He was accused of raping a journalist in the lift of a five-star hotel in the western coastal state of Goa during an event in November 2013, the Guardian reported.
Following the initial allegations, Tejpal was arrested and spent seven months in jail until the supreme court granted him bail.
In 2021, he was acquitted in the case, a decision that has now been reversed with the conviction and 10-year sentence.
Tejpal says he will appeal the conviction at the Supreme Court, according to Al Jazeera.
The case has been closely followed in India since it first emerged, drawing sustained public attention over the years as it moved through the courts.
Why it matters
The reversal of a prominent editor's acquittal is a significant development in a case that has drawn national attention in India for more than a decade. It highlights the long path that high-profile sexual assault cases can take through the courts and the possibility of appeals continuing at the Supreme Court.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Tarun Tejpal?
Tarun Tejpal, 63, is the founder and former editor of the Indian investigative news magazine Tehelka.
What was he convicted of?
He was convicted of raping a junior colleague in the lift of a five-star hotel in Goa during an event in November 2013, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Will he appeal?
According to Al Jazeera, Tejpal says he will appeal the conviction at the Supreme Court.