Goa moves SC seeking life term for Tarun Tejpal in sexual assault case

The Goa government has moved the Supreme Court seeking enhancement of journalist Tarun Tejpal's 10-year sentence in the 2013 sexual assault case. It argued the sentence was disproportionate to the offence and sought life imprisonment or another enhanced sentence

New Delhi: The Goa government on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court seeking enhancement of the sentence handed down to journalist Tarun Tejpal in the 2013 sexual assault case. On August 6, Tejpal was convicted of rape and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for 10 years by the Bombay High Court, overturning the verdict of the trial court which had acquitted the former editor of Tehelka five years ago.

In a petition filed in the apex court, the Goa government said that the sentence pronounced by the high court was “grossly disproportionate to the nature and gravity of the offences” committed by Tejpal. “The present case warrants enhancement of sentence to imprisonment for life, or such enhanced sentence as this court may deem appropriate, and the sentences ought not to have been directed to run concurrently,” the plea said.

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In its verdict, the high court had termed the trial court’s 2021 order as “perverse”, noting that it fell for the notion that a sexual assault complainant must be a “perfect victim” and conduct herself in a certain way so as to appear credible.

Tejpal was convicted of raping a junior colleague inside a hotel elevator in 2013 during an event organised by the magazine in Goa. The 62-year-old journalist claimed that he was a political victim and would approach the Supreme Court to challenge his conviction.