Goa govt moves SC to enhance ex-Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal’s 10-year jail term

New Delhi: In fresh trouble for former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal, the Goa government has moved the Supreme Court seeking enhancement of his current punishment of 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment in the 2013 sexual assault case involving a junior colleague.

The Goa government is expected to push for harsher, exemplary punishment for the former editor, a lawyer said on Tuesday.

On August 6, the Bombay High Court had sentenced Tejpal to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment, hours after setting aside his acquittal and convicting him of rape and other offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

A division bench of Justices Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar announced the sentence and granted Tejpal two weeks to surrender to the jail authorities.

The bench, headed by Justice Gokhale, reversed Tejpal’s acquittal in the trial court by allowing an appeal filed by the Goa government.

The state government challenged the May 2021 judgment of a sessions court in Mapusa, which had acquitted Tejpal of all charges, in the High Court.

Pronouncing the verdict, the High Court convicted Tejpal under Sections 376(2)(f) and 376(2)(k) (rape), 354A (sexual harassment) and 354B (assault or use of criminal force against a woman with intent to disrobe) of the IPC. It had then posted the sentencing for later in the day.

During the hearing on sentence, Tejpal’s counsel sought suspension of the conviction for eight weeks to enable him to approach the Supreme Court, submitting that the verdict had reversed an acquittal and highlighting that he had no other criminal case pending.

Addressing the Justice Gokhale-led Bench, Tejpal also pleaded for leniency, saying he believed himself to be a victim and asked the High Court to take a compassionate view while deciding the sentence.

Opposing the plea, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that the case required a strong message against sexual violence, contending that “when a girl says no, it means no”.

The case stems from allegations made by a junior colleague that Tejpal sexually assaulted her inside an elevator of a luxury hotel in Goa during an event in November 2013.

The Goa Police registered an FIR against Tejpal for offences including rape, following which he was arrested in November 2013 after a local court rejected his anticipatory bail plea. The Supreme Court granted him regular bail in July 2014.

IANS