Live: Tarun Tejpal arrives in High Court, verdict on his acquittal shortly

Download AppNewsIndiaLive: Tarun Tejpal arrives in High Court, verdict on his acquittal shortlyLive blogTarun Tejpal Case: The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court will shortly pronounce its verdict on the appeal filed by the State of Goa against the acquittal of former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal. The case stems from allegations by Tejpal's junior colleague that he sexually assaulted her in the elevator of a luxury hotel in Goa during an event hosted by the magazine. Follow this space for all the live updates....Read MoreTarun Tejpal reaches court in Panaji ahead of acquittal verdictAug 6, 2026 10:47 ISTTarun Tejpal verdict live: Judges assemble to deliver Tarun Tejpal verdictThe division bench of Justices Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar has assembled and is set to pronounce the verdict on the Goa government's appeal against Tarun Tejpal's acquittal.Aug 6, 2026 10:45 ISTWatch: Tarun Tejpal arrives at Goa High Court ahead of sexual assault verdictTehelka founder Tarun Tejpal arrives at the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court ahead of the verdict on the State government's appeal against his acquittal in the 2013 sexual assault case. Aug 6, 2026 10:33 ISTTarun Tejpal verdict live: Tarun Tejpal arrives in court ahead of verdict on acquittal appealFormer Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal has reached the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court ahead of the verdict on the Goa government's appeal against his acquittal in the 2013 sexual assault case.Aug 6, 2026 09:52 ISTTarun Tejpal verdict: Will Tarun Tejpal's acquittal be overturned? High Court verdict shortlyThe Goa bench of the Bombay High Court will pronounce its verdict at 10.30 am today on the Goa government's appeal challenging Tarun Tejpal's 2021 acquittal in the 2013 sexual assault case.Aug 6, 2026 09:50 ISTTarun Tejpal case live: Tejpal's apology email in focusA key issue before the High Court was an apology email Tarun Tejpal sent to the complainant after the alleged incident. The prosecution argued that the email amounted to an admission of guilt. The defence, however, maintained that Tejpal wrote it under institutional pressure to protect Tehelka's reputation and that it should not be treated as a confession. Aug 6, 2026 09:06 ISTTarun Tejpal case: What the prosecution argued before the Bombay High Court Trial court relied on stereotypes: Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that the trial court wrongly judged the complainant based on preconceived notions of how a sexual assault survivor should behave. No 'model behaviour' for survivors: He submitted that victims react differently depending on their background, education and circumstances, and allegations cannot be disbelieved because a complainant did not fit a stereotypical pattern. Professional conduct not proof against assault: Mehta argued that the complainant continuing with her journalistic duties after the alleged incident did not undermine her credibility, saying professional responsibilities should not be confused with personal trauma. Minor inconsistencies do not discredit testimony: He contended that small discrepancies in the complainant's statements did not make her a "tutored" witness or render her testimony unreliable. Rape allegation was not an afterthought: Rejecting the defence's claim, Mehta said the complainant's November 18, 2013 "testimony" to then managing editor Shoma Chaudhury referred to Tejpal's alleged acts before Arun Jaitley's press conference, and the FIR reproduced that complaint verbatim. Relied on contemporaneous records: The prosecution cited the complainant's November 19 WhatsApp message and her November 22 letter seeking suo motu police action to argue that her allegations were consistent from the outset. Questioned motive to fabricate: Mehta asked why the complainant would invent the allegations, arguing that she had not initially intended to pursue criminal prosecution. Opposed scrutiny of personal life: The prosecution objected to the defence rely Aug 6, 2026 08:11 ISTTarun Tejpal case: What Tarun Tejpal's defence argued before the Bombay High Court Case was fabricated: The defence argued that the alleged sexual assault case was fabricated. Linked to fellowship grant: Senior advocate Aabad Ponda contended that the allegations were made to secure a Rs 1 lakh fellowship for writing a book on violence against women. Political motivation alleged: The defence claimed the case against Tejpal was politically motivated. Questioned complainant's credibility: Ponda urged the court to examine the complainant's conduct, digital records and WhatsApp conversations while assessing her credibility. Cited WhatsApp messages: The defence read out WhatsApp chats in which the complainant allegedly wrote that she intended to "unleash a reign of sexual terror on unsuspecting thinkers". Message part of contemporaneous record: Although the complainant later described the message as a joke, the defence argued it formed part of the contemporaneous record and should be considered by the court. Sought to challenge prosecution's version: The defence maintained that the available electronic evidence and the complainant's communications did not support the prosecution's allegations. Aug 6, 2026 07:30 ISTTarun Tejpal case: What happened and why the verdict matters The allegation: The case stems from allegations that former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal sexually assaulted a junior colleague inside an elevator at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Bambolim, Goa, on November 7 and 8, 2013, during Tehelka's annual Thinkfest event. Emails triggered the case: The allegations became public after emails exchanged between the complainant, Tejpal and Tehelka's then managing editor surfaced, leading to widespread outrage. Tejpal steps down, arrested: Tejpal stepped down as editor following the controversy. He was later arrested and remained in custody before being granted bail in July 2014. Trial begins: The trial before a Goa sessions court commenced in 2017. Acquittal in 2021: In May 2021, the sessions court acquitted Tejpal of all charges, holding that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. The court's observations on the complainant's conduct drew sharp criticism. Goa government appeals: Following the acquittal, the Goa government challenged the verdict before the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court. Appeal hearing: Final arguments were heard over three days by a bench of Justices Dr Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar. Both sides relied on WhatsApp messages, emails, CCTV footage and witness testimonies. Who represented whom: The Goa government was represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, while senior advocate Aabad Ponda appeared for Tejpal. Verdict reserved: The High Court reserved its judgment on July 30. What is at stake: The court is examining whether the trial court erred in acquitting Tejpal and whether his apology email to the complainant amounted to an admission that a sexual encounter had taken place. The High Court has directed Tejpal to remain personally present when the verdict is pronounced. Aug 6, 2026 07:26 ISTTarun Tejpal case: Tejpal asked to appear as Goa HC delivers verdict in acquittal appealThe Bombay High Court's Goa bench reserved its verdict on July 30 and is set to pronounce its decision on Thursday. The appeal centres on whether the Goa sessions court erred in acquitting Tarun Tejpal in 2021 and whether an apology email he sent to the complainant, a junior Tehelka employee, amounted to an admission that a sexual encounter had taken place. The court has directed the former Tehelka editor-in-chief to remain personally present during the pronouncement. Read more here