PANAJI: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Thursday sentenced former Tehelka Editor-in-Chief Tarun Tejpal to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment after convicting him in the 2013 sexual assault case involving his junior colleague. The Court also imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh, directing that the entire amount be deposited in favour of the survivor.
While addressing the media, Tejpal said he would challenge the High Court's verdict before the Supreme Court.
Calling the case a "political vendetta", Tejpal said, "I will 100% challenge the High Court's verdict in the Supreme Court after studying the order. This is a 13-year political vendetta linked to Tehelka's investigative journalism. I have full faith in the judiciary and believe the truth will prevail."
Expressing disappointment over the verdict, he said, "We are very disappointed. We believe the evidence clearly exonerates me, but it has not been appreciated by the Bench. We will appeal this verdict. I am a political victim and all I ask for is a fair trial and a fair hearing."
Tejpal further alleged that he had been falsely implicated because of Tehelka's investigative journalism. "Those who have done journalism against them or spoken against them are being targeted. Look at the last 12 years and see how many people have been trapped in false cases. I have also been trapped in the same way. Tehelka's journalism affected vested political interests, and they have been pursuing us for 13 years. They stopped my journalism, they stopped Tehelka and even prevented my books from being published," he claimed.
He also referred to other individuals facing criminal cases, alleging that he too had become a victim of political retaliation.
Reiterating his faith in the judicial system, Tejpal said he was confident that the truth would ultimately prevail. "I have full faith that there are judges in this vast judiciary who will see the truth. We will place all the evidence before the public. We will continue to fight," he said.
