Tarun Tejpal Judgement: Journalist Tarun Tejpal has been convicted by the Bombay High Court in a rape case. Following this verdict, he will approach the Supreme Court. He appealed to the High Court judge for leniency in his sentence.

Tarun Tejpal will go to SC.

Tarun Tejpal, former editor of the news magazine "Tehelka," has suffered a major setback. The Bombay High Court has overturned a lower court's verdict and convicted him in the rape case. A division bench of Justice Neela Gokhale and Justice Amit Jamsandekar of the Goa bench of the High Court said the sentencing decision will be announced this afternoon.

Tarun Tejpal was present in court during the verdict and pleaded for leniency. He said he would appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.

According to news agency PTI, Tarun Tejpal told the court, "Today I am 62 years old. I am the father of two daughters. I have a wife. I am a victim of a political conspiracy. My lawyers have also asked me to appeal to the court for leniency."

Tejpal's lawyer Abad Ponda, while seeking minimum punishment, also requested the court to stay the sentence and conviction for at least 10 weeks so that he can appeal in the Supreme Court.

During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Goa government, sought the maximum punishment, saying it would send a clear message that "no means no."

How much punishment can be given?

The court convicted Tejpal under sections 376(2)(f) (rape of a woman by a guardian or person in a position of trust or authority), 354(a) (sexual harassment), and 354(b) (use of criminal force to a woman with intent to disrobe) of the Indian Penal Code. Under section 376, Tejpal faces a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The case relates to the alleged sexual harassment and rape of a former junior female colleague in a hotel lift during a Thinkfest event held in Goa in November 2013. Tejpal was acquitted by a lower court in 2021, following which the Goa government filed an appeal in the Bombay High Court.