An Indian court has sentenced former Tehelka magazine editor Tarun Tejpal to 10 years in prison after overturning his acquittal in a decade-old rape case that shook the country’s media industry.

The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court convicted the 62-year-old journalist under provisions of Indian law relating to rape and sexual harassment. In addition to the prison sentence, which will run concurrently with other penalties, the court ordered him to pay fines totalling more than one million rupees (about $10,500).

Tejpal, who has consistently denied the allegations, said he would challenge the conviction before India’s Supreme Court.

The case dates back to November 2013, when a former colleague accused Tejpal of sexually assaulting her inside a lift during Tehelka’s annual conference in Goa. The event was attended by several prominent figures, including Hollywood actor Robert De Niro and Indian film legend Amitabh Bachchan.

Under Indian law, the identity of the complainant cannot be disclosed.

The allegations made national headlines at a time when India was already engaged in an intense debate on sexual violence following the 2012 gang rape and murder of a young woman in New Delhi, a case that triggered nationwide protests and prompted significant reforms to the country’s rape laws.

In the aftermath of the allegations, Tejpal initially described the incident as “a lapse of judgement” and “a misreading of the situation.” As the investigation progressed, however, he denied any criminal wrongdoing, called for investigators to examine CCTV footage, and claimed the case was part of a political vendetta orchestrated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Goa.

Tejpal, a co-founder of Tehelka magazine, was once regarded as one of India’s most influential investigative journalists. The publication gained prominence through a series of high-profile undercover investigations, including Operation West End, which exposed alleged corruption involving senior military officers, government officials, and politicians through a sting operation.

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He was arrested in 2013 and spent seven months in custody before being granted bail by the Supreme Court.

In 2021, a sessions court in Goa acquitted Tejpal of all charges. However, the judgment attracted widespread criticism after the trial judge questioned the complainant’s behaviour following the alleged assault, noting that photographs showed her smiling and appearing “normal” shortly afterwards.

The Goa government challenged that ruling before the Bombay High Court, arguing that the acquittal was flawed and seeking the maximum punishment. During the appeal, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta urged the court to send a strong message against sexual violence.

“This court must give a clear message to society that when a girl says no, it means no,” Mehta was quoted as telling the court.

Before sentencing, Tejpal appealed for leniency, telling the court he believed he was a political victim and describing himself as the father of two daughters and a husband.

The High Court ultimately convicted him under several provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 376(2)(f), which relates to rape committed by a person in a position of trust or authority over a woman.

The case is expected to continue as Tejpal prepares to appeal the conviction before the Supreme Court.

(BBC News)