The Bombay High Court on Thursday convicted former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal on charges of rape in the 2013 sexual assault case and set aside the acquittal order passed by a sessions court.
A bench of Justices Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar of the High Court's Goa bench held Tejpal guilty and said the order on the quantum of punishment would be pronounced later in the day.
Tejpal faces a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum punishment of life imprisonment under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code.
During the sentencing hearing, Tejpal's counsel Aabad Ponda sought the minimum punishment, while Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Goa government, urged the court to impose the maximum sentence, arguing that it would send a strong message that "no means no".
Tejpal, who was present in court, sought leniency, describing himself as a "political victim" and pointing out that he is the father of two daughters.
The case relates to allegations made by a former junior colleague, who accused Tejpal of sexually assaulting her inside a hotel elevator during Tehelka's ThinkFest event in Goa in November 2013.
The Goa sessions court had acquitted Tejpal in 2021. The acquittal was challenged by the Goa government before the Bombay High Court.
