Former Tehluka Editor Tarun Tejpal Acquitted in 2013 Rape Case
(Judicial Quest News Network)
A session court in Goa on Friday acquitted journalist Tarun Tejpal of sexually assaulting a former female colleague.
The Court was expected to pronounce the verdict on Wednesday but due to power outage during cyclone it was deferred.
Advocate Suhas Velip who was representing Tejpal, said that the matter was adjourned because the additional session court judge at Mapus could not work as there was no electricity for the lasr2-3 days.
He was accused of forcing himself on the women, against her wishes, inside an elevator of the Grand Hyatt, Bambolim, Goa on November 7 and 8, 2013, during the newsmagazine’s official event-Think 13 festival.
Additional session judge Kasma Joshi reserved the verdict in the seven-year-old-case, last month. The trial was held in-camera at Tejpal’s instance.
Tejpal was tried for committing the offences punishable under IPC Section 341 (wrongful restrain). 342 (wrongful confinement), 354 (sexual harassment).354A(1)(I)(II) (Demand for sexual favours),354B (assault or use of criminal force to women with intent to disrobe),376 (2)(f) (person in a position of authority over women, committing rape) and 376(2)(k) (rape by a person in a position of control).
Special public prosecutor Fransico Tavora assisted by advocate Cyndiana D’Silva represented the Goa Police while Advocate Rajeev Gomes and Amir Khan represented Tejpal.
The case dates back to 2013, He was accused of forcing himself on the women, against her wishes, inside an elevator of the Grand Hyatt, Bambolim, Goa on November 7 and 8, 2013, during the newsmagazine’s official event-Think 13 festival.
The Goa police subsequently registered a FIR against Tejpal for various offences including rape.
He was arrested in November, 201, and later released on bail in July 2014.
The trial against Tejpal commenced in 2017. In the meanwhile, he had moved Bombay High Court for quashing the case against him, claiming that the charges against him were fabricated.
The High Court had dismissed the plea after which he appealed to the Supreme Court.
The Apex Court also had refused to interfere and rejected his petition on August,19,2019.
On September 28,2017 the Session Court framed the charges against him, and the victim testified in March 2018. The prosecution has examined 71 witnesses and cross-examined five defence witnesses in the case. The prosecution’s case mainly rests on the victim’s statement, statements of her colleagues, and electronic evidence in the form of CCTV footage, e-mails and WhatsApp Messages.
