Former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal acquitted in the year 2013 rape case -
Goa's District and Sessions Court Mapusa has acquitted Tehelka's founder and former editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal from all allegations of sexual harassment and rape of a junior colleague.
A few days after the incident, on 18 November 2013, the victim complained to another acclaimed journalist, Shoma Chaudhary, the then managing editor of Tehelka. The next day, in a long email, Tejpal sent a formal apology to the victim in which she said, "I apologize unconditionally for this shameful act. I misbehaved with you without your will and on two occasions, on November 8 and 2013, your Tried to have sexual contact with.
However, the victim insisted that an anti-sexual harassment cell be set up to investigate the case under Visakha guidelines.
Meanwhile, on 22 November 2013, the Goa Police took suo motu cognizance of the allegations and filed a complaint which became front page news. Tejpal alleged that he was being framed and the case was a political conspiracy against him, especially since the BJP came to power in Goa.
Tejpal was arrested on 30 November 2015 in a sexual harassment case when his advance bail plea was rejected by a local court in Goa. Less than a year later, in July 2014, the Supreme Court granted him bail. In February 2014, the Goa Police Crime Branch filed a 2 846-page charge sheet against him.
Three years later, in June 2017, the Sessions Court allowed Tejpal's application to be held in a closed-door hearing to honor the dignity and privacy of both parties.
The Sessions Court framed charges against Tejpal on 28 September 2017 and the victim testified in March 2018. The prosecution examined 71 witnesses in the case and heard five defense witnesses. The prosecution's case mainly relies on the victim's statement as her colleagues' statements and CCTV footage e-mails and electronic evidence in the form of WhatsApp messages.
The bench of Supreme Court Justice Arun Mishra Justice MR Shah and six Justice BR Gavai in August 2019
Petition dismissed in which charges against him
There was a demand for cancellation. The bench termed the offense as morally abhorrent and an attack on the privacy of the victim.
Court directed to complete the case within six months
gave.
The prosecution then filed a supplementary charge sheet in January this year citing ten more witnesses. The arguments of the prosecution and defense were heard in March and the order in the case was reserved.
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