Goa Court acquits Tarun Tejpal in sexual assault case

Tarun Tejpal, former editor-in-chief of Tehelka, has been acquitted in a sexual assault case filed by a female colleague. The Goa district court gave its judgement in the case today.

In November 2013, the Goa Police registered an FIR against Tejpal, based on a complaint filed by a former female colleague of Tejpal, who alleged that the senior journalist had sexually assaulted her in a hotel elevator. Following this, Tejpal was arrested, but he got bail in May 2014.

Tejpal had also petitioned the Bombay High Court, where he sought stay on framing of charges against him. The Bombay High Court had dismissed this petition.

Meanwhile, following the Goa district court’s ruling, Goa’s Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant, while speaking to the media, said that his government would move the High Court against Tejpal’s acquittal.