Journalist Tarun Tejpal has appealed to the Supreme Court against a Bombay High Court judgment sentencing him to 10 years’ imprisonment in a 2013 rape case.

The Bombay High Court Bench sentenced him on August 6. Tejpal’s appeal follows the State of Goa’s petition in the top court a few days ago for enhancement of his punishment to life imprisonment.

The State had said the sentence was manifestly inadequate but clarified that it did not want to challenge or reopen the findings of the High Court on merits.

The High Court had set aside his acquittal by a Goa Sessions Court five years ago.

While Tejpal pleaded for leniency, claiming he was a “political victim” and the father of two daughters, Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Goa government, had demanded the maximum punishment to send a strong message.

The State of Goa has said the 10-year prison sentence pronounced by the High Court was “grossly disproportionate to the nature and gravity of the offences” committed by Tejpal.

“The present case warrants enhancement of sentence to imprisonment for life, or such enhanced sentence as this court may deem appropriate, and the sentences ought not to have been directed to run concurrently,” the State petition has said.

The High Court had termed the trial court’s 2021 order “perverse”.

Tejpal was convicted of raping a junior colleague inside a hotel elevator in 2013 during an event organised by the magazine in Goa.

Bombay High Court convicts Tarun Tejpal in 2013 sexual assault case

The Bombay High Court on Thursday (August 6, 2026) convicted former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal on charges of rape in a 2013 sexual assault case and set aside a sessions court order acquitting him
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The Hindu

The Bombay High Court on Thursday (August 6, 2026) convicted former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal on charges of rape in a 2013 sexual assault case and set aside a sessions court order acquitting him.

A Bench of Justices Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar of the HC’s Goa Bench awarded him 10 years prison sentence and gave him two weeks time to surrender.

Tarun Tejpal case – a timeline

Tejpal has been convicted under sections 376 (2)(f) (person who is a guardian or in a position of trust or authority rapes a woman), 354 (a) (sexual harassment) and 354 (b) (using criminal force on a woman with an intent to disrobe her) of the Indian Penal Code.

Issues of sexual assault: the Tehelka case

Under section 376, Tejpal faces a minimum punishment of ten years and a maximum of life imprisonment.

While Tejpal’s counsel Aabad Ponda sought the minimum punishment, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Goa government, sought the maximum punishment to send a strong message that “no means no”.

Tejpal, who was present in court, sought leniency, claiming that he was a “political victim” and the father of two daughters.

The case relates to allegations by a former junior colleague that the veteran journalist sexually assaulted her inside a hotel elevator during the ThinkFest event in Goa in November 2013.

After he was acquitted by the trial court in 2021, the Goa government challenged the verdict.