New Delhi: A city court in Goa on Friday acquitted journalist Tarun Tejpal of rape charges in 2013 rape case. Tejpal, the former Tehelka editor-in-chief was accused of molesting a female colleague inside the elevator of a luxury hotel in Goa in 2013.
Tejpal, who has consistently denied the allegations, welcomed the ruling and described it as “a long-fought for vindication”. Additional sessions judge Kshama Joshi acquitted Tejpal, who was present in the court along with his family members when the judgment was pronounced around 10.45 am.
“The court has acquitted Tejpal of all the charges. A detailed order about it will be made available later in the day,” advocate Suhas Velip, junior to advocate Rajiv Gomes, who represented Tejpal in the court, told reporters. Gomes, who defended Tejpal in the case, died of COVID-19 last week.
Statement from the Tejpal family: pic.twitter.com/A48jgednyS
— Smita (@smitagnair) May 21, 2021
Case history of Tarun Tejpal’s prosecution and acquittal in rape case
November 23, 2013: FIR lodged against Tejpal by a female colleague who accused him of sexually assaulting her in an elevator of 5-star hotel in Goa.
November 30, 2013: Tejpal put behind bars by Goa Police Crime Branch after his anticipatory bail is rejected by court.
February 17, 2014: Crime Branch files chargesheet running into 2,846-pages, with statements of 152 witnesses.
July 2014: Supreme Court grants bail to Tejpal. He is released from jail.
September 28, 2017: Sessions court frames charges against Tejpal.
August 19, 2019: SC rejects Tejpal’s plea to quash the FIR filed against him claiming he was framed. Directs the trial court to complete trial in six months.
October 2019: Trial recommences
January 2021: Goa police submits supplementary chargesheet to trial court, says its wants to examine ten more witnesses.
March 2021: Arguments conclude. Sessions court lists judgment for April 27.
April 27-May 21: Judgment got deferred for a couple of times, apparently due to Covid-19 pandemic and Cyclone Tauktae. Finally, on May 21, the court delivered verdict, absolving him of all charges.
