Goa moves Supreme Court seeking tougher sentence for Tarun Tejpal in 2013 rape case

The Goa government has moved the Supreme Court seeking a tougher sentence for former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal, who was recently convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison in the 2013 rape case. Tejpal has also said he will challenge the Bombay High Court verdict in the apex court.Tehelka magazine founder Tarun Tejpal was convicted to 10 years in jail in a rape case. (File photo)The Goa government has moved the Supreme Court seeking enhancement of the sentence awarded to former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal in the 2013 rape case, days after the Bombay High Court convicted him and sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.The High Court had overturned Tejpal’s 2021 acquittal by a trial court, describing the verdict as “perverse”. It also criticised the trial court for approaching the case through the notion that a complainant in a sexual assault case must behave like a “perfect victim” to be considered credible.Tejpal, 63, was convicted of raping a junior colleague inside a hotel elevator in Goa in 2013. The alleged incident took place during an event organised by Tehelka, the magazine he founded.The trial court had acquitted Tejpal in 2021, citing doubts about the prosecution's case. The High Court, however, rejected the acquittal and found him guilty, subsequently sentencing him to 10 years in prison. Tejpal has said he will approach the Supreme Court challenging the High Court's conviction and sentence.The state's plea seeking a tougher sentence will now come before the Supreme Court, which is also expected to hear Tejpal's challenge to his conviction. - EndsPublished By: Shipra ParasharPublished On: Aug 18, 2026 20:15 IST