Tehelka Founder Tarun Tejpal Acquitted In Rape Case, Says, 'CCTV Footage Proved My Innocence'

Tehelka founder Tarun Tejpal accused of rape has been acquitted by the Goa court.

New Delhi: A District and Sessions Court in Goa, pronounce its judgment in the rape case against former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal today. The court has acquitted Tarun Tejpal.

After the court's verdict Tejpat issued a press releasing thanking the court for its 'fair trial stating that the 'past seven and half years have been dramatic for his family facing the catastrophic fallout of false allegation."

Cara Tejpal, Daughter of Tarun Tejpal read a statement on behalf of Tejpal in which he gave credit to late Adv. Rajiv Gomes who died in May 2021 due to Covid related complications.

The press release read, “In November 2013 I was falsely accused of sexual assault by a colleague. Today the Hon’ble Trial Court of  Additional Sessions Judge Kshama Joshi, in Goa, has honourably acquitted me. In an awfully vitiated age, where ordinary courage has become rare, I thank her for standing by the truth."

"It is with profound respect that I thank this court for its thorough examination of the CCTV footage and other empirical material on record," Tejpal's statement read.

In his statement, Tarun Tejpal said, "CCTV footage proved his innocence."

"It's been a long nightmare for my family. I'm relieved that it is finally over & I'm very grateful to have received justice because it is not always the given thing in this country anymore", said Tarun Tejpal, Former Editor-in-Chief of Tehelka Magazine

Tejpal has been accused by a junior colleague of sexually assaulting her at a five-star resort in Goa.

Tejpal's colleague had accused him of forcing himself on her, against her wishes, inside an elevator of the Grand Hyatt, Bambolim, Goa on November 7 and 8, 2013, during the news magazine's official event-The THiNK 13 festival.

In September 2017, Tejpal was booked under sections 376 (rape), 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement) 354A (sexual harassment) and 354B (criminal assault), of the Indian Penal Code after the woman's complaint.