Tarun Tejpal, former editor of India’s main magazine, acquitted of rape News of sexual assault

The 58-year-old founder and former editor of Tehelka magazine was accused in 2013 of raping a colleague in the elevator of a five-star hotel in Goa.

An Indian court has acquitted the editor of major news and research magazines seven years ago of raping a female colleague in a major case that had headlines across the country.

Tarun Tejpal, a 58-year-old founder and former editor of Tehelka magazine, was accused in November 2013 of raping a female journalist in the elevator of a five-star hotel in Goa. He was given bail in 2014.

Tejpal was acquitted on charges of rape, sexual harassment and illegal detention after Judge Kshama Joshi read a short order that Tejpal and his family were in front, his lawyer Suhas Velip told reporters on Friday.

The media was not allowed in the courts due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The indictment alleges Tejpal allegedly raped and outlawed the woman, according to newly expanded laws that include the definition of rape that includes other types of sexual assault. If convicted, he could face up to seven years in prison.

Prosecutors are likely to appeal Tejpal’s acquittal after a detailed ruling is available, the India Press Trust of India said.

“Seriously overwhelmed. The state will attack the verdict, “prosecutor Francisco Tavora told AFP in a text message.

The survivor, since he left the magazine, cannot be named for legal reasons. He did not immediately comment on Tejpal’s acquittal.

The woman said Tejpal attacked her twice in an elevator at a Goa hotel on November 7 and 8, 2013, when the magazine hosted an annual conference of Indian leaders, journalists and celebrities.

The duties of the woman at the conference were to escort Robert De Niro and his daughter to the events.

Tejpal, on the right, was released from court after the judge was delayed on Wednesday [Umesh Zarmekar/AFP]

After filing a complaint against him, Tejpal magazine was dismissed for reporting gender inequalities, corruption and sexual violence in India, highlighting the sensitivity and misogynistic attitudes of many Indian men towards police and judicial violence against raped victims.

The situation of Tejpal in the magazine is not clear.

As a result of the gang rape of a student in New Delhi in December 2012, protests spread and anti-rape laws were strengthened, the case occurred at a time when the Indian sexual assault register was under investigation.

Tejpal, who has consistently denied the allegations, welcomed the ruling, saying that in a document read by his daughter outside the Goa court, Carak said he had “fought for a long-standing claim.”

The document thanked the court for a “strict, impartial and fair trial.”

“The last seven and a half years have been traumatic for my family because we have faced the catastrophe of the fall of these false accusations in all aspects of our personal, professional and public lives,” the document says.

Campaigns for women’s rights challenged the court’s decision, and activist Kavita Krishnan said it was “very unfortunate”.

“This is a case of evidence and bold action by the complainant who wasted no time in telling people what happened,” Krishnan told AFP.

“I know how torturous the trial of the plaintiff has been. The whole trial process has gotten into the pile and suffered all sorts of cruelty,” he added.