Tarun Tejpal said he will appeal to the Supreme Court after the Bombay High Court convicted him in a 2013 sexual assault case.
The verdict reverses a previous legal victory for the former editor and founder of Tehelka magazine, signaling a major shift in a case that has spanned more than 10 years of litigation.
The Bombay High Court delivered the conviction on Thursday, Aug. 5 [1]. This ruling overturns a previous acquittal granted by a Goa sessions court in 2021 [2]. The case stems from an alleged sexual assault incident that occurred in 2013 [2].
Tejpal characterized the court's decision as a targeted attack rather than a legal finding. He said the verdict is an act of revenge. He further linked his legal situation to other imprisoned figures in India, stating, "Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam are in jail like me" [3].
Tejpal attributed the conviction to his history as an investigative journalist. He said, "We will surely approach the Supreme Court. They are after me due to political vendetta and work done by Tehelka" [1].
The legal battle has seen significant volatility, with the 2021 acquittal being overturned five years later by the high court [2]. Tejpal maintains that the judicial process has been weaponized against him due to the nature of his reporting.
“"The verdict is an act of revenge."”
This case highlights the ongoing tension between the Indian judiciary and high-profile journalists. By framing his conviction as a political vendetta, Tejpal is positioning his legal struggle as part of a broader pattern of state pressure on dissenters and investigative reporters, regardless of the specific criminal charges involved.
