The Mumbai High Court on Thursday sentenced journalist Tarun Tejpal to 10 years in prison in a sexual assault case.
Tarun Tejpal, the former editor-in-chief of the ‘Tehelka’ magazine, was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a female colleague while he had gone to attend a seminar held at a hotel in Goa in 2013.
The Mapusa court in Goa, which had been hearing the case, acquitted Tejpal of all charges.
An appeal against this was filed in the Mumbai High Court on behalf of the woman journalist who was the victim.
A bench comprising judges Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar, which heard this case, on Thursday set aside the Goa court’s verdict.
Further, the Mumbai High Court declared Tejpal guilty under Sections 376(2)(d), 376(2)(k), 354A, and 354B of the Indian Penal Code.
Before the sentence was announced, Tejpal made a plea to the judges, saying that he is now 62 years old and requested leniency.
Following this, the judges who read out the verdict ordered that Tejpal be sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined Rs. 10.10 lakh.
Furthermore, Tejpal has been given two weeks’ time to appear before prison department officials.
