The acquittal of former founder-editor of investigative Tehelka magazine by the court has come as a huge relief to the beleaguered journalist in a sexual assault case. As is in the fitness of things the women rights activists are crying foul at the acquittal and so too is our CM that the government would challenge the verdict in the High Court. Like his predecessor, Manohar Parrikar too had echoed similar views at the behest of their political masters in Delhi as the gutsy Tejpal exposed the netas in a number of sting operations as an undercover agent. This is sheer political vendetta. As a defence lawyer for the alleged accused, Adv Rajiv Gomes did a splendid job of collecting and collating anecdotal and circumstantial evidence which culminated in Tejpal’s acquittal. However, it is ironic that he passed away after contracting Covid just a week before the pronouncement of the court verdict.
