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Indian court convicts former editor Tarun Tejpal of rape, overturning acquittal

An Indian court has convicted Tarun Tejpal, former editor of Tehelka magazine, of raping a junior colleague, overturning his 2021 acquittal.

  • Tarun Tejpal, 63, was accused of raping a journalist in a Goa hotel in November 2013.
  • The Bombay high court convicted Tejpal on Thursday, overturning a 2021 acquittal by a Goa court.
  • Tejpal will be sentenced later on Thursday and can appeal the verdict.

An Indian court has convicted Tarun Tejpal, the 63-year-old founder and former editor of Tehelka magazine, of raping a junior colleague. This decision by the Bombay high court overturns his acquittal in 2021.

Mr Tejpal was accused of raping a journalist in a five-star hotel lift in Goa in November 2013. He was arrested and spent seven months in jail before being granted bail by the supreme court.

The Goa government challenged the 2021 acquittal by a Goa court, leading to the current conviction. Mr Tejpal, who has denied the accusations, is scheduled to be sentenced later on Thursday and has the option to appeal the verdict in a higher court.

Sunita Sawant, the Goa police investigator who led the case, stated that the judgment is "very important for women who are working in any sector." The case emerged during a period of intense scrutiny over India's handling of sexual assault cases.

Why this matters: The case drew nationwide attention and occurred when India's handling of sexual assault cases was under intense scrutiny, following the strengthening of rape laws in 2012.

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