Tarun Tejpal acquitted in sexual assault case after seven years - the past, present and future of this case

Tarun Tejpal was on Friday (May 21, 2021) acquitted of all charges by a sessions court, seven years after a woman colleague accused him of sexual assault. 

 

 

(File Photo: Reuters)  

After acquittal, Tejpal said in a statement that he and his family had faced a 'catastrophic fall-out' of 'false allegations' for the past seven years and also faced the 'boot of the state'.

 

"The past seven-and-a-half years have been traumatic for my family as we have dealt with the catastrophic fallout of these false allegations on every aspect of our personal, professional and public lives," the statement issued by Tejpal read.

 

"We have felt the boot of the state, but all through it we have co-operated fully with the Goa police and the legal system, through hundreds of court proceedings," he said.

 

"It is with profound respect that I thank this court for its rigorous, impartial and fair trial and for its thorough examination of the CCTV footage and other empirical material on record," Tejpal added.

 

(File Photo: ANI)

Journalist Tarun Tejpal was accused of sexual assault by a woman colleague in the elevator of a luxury hotel in Goa. The alleged incident had taken place in November 2013 following which he had stepped down as editor-in-chief of Tehelka.

 

On July 1, 2014, the Supreme Court had granted bail to Tejpal, observing that he had spent six months in jail since his arrest on November 30, 2013, and there was no need for his continued incarceration after the filing of the charge sheet on February 17, 2014. 

 

 

(File Photo: PTI)

Tarun Tejpal faced trial under IPC sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), 354 (assault or criminal force with intent to outrage modesty), 354-A (sexual harassment), 354-B (assault or use of criminal force to woman 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).

 

 

(File Photo: PTI)

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said his government would file an appeal against the acquittal in the High Court as it was confident that there was evidence against the journalist.

 

Sawant said, "We will not tolerate any injustice to be meted out to women in Goa. We will challenge the district court's order before the high court soon."

 

He said he had discussed the issue with the public prosecutor and the investigating officer and claimed that there was enough evidence against Tejpal.