'Umar Khalid is in jail. Sharjeel Imam is in jail. I am one of them'

New Delhi: Convicted in the 2013 sexual assault case, former Tehelka Editor-in-Chief Tarun Tejpal has alleged that the legal action against him was politically motivated, launching a sharp attack on the proceedings after the Bombay High Court overturned his acquittal and sentenced him to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment.

Defending himself after the verdict, Tejpal said that Tehelka's investigative and political reporting had angered powerful political interests, alleging that he had faced years of retaliation. While explaining his position, he drew parallels with jailed student activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, as well as lawyer Surendra Gadling, saying that he too had become a victim of political persecution.

"They shut down my journalism. They stopped my writing. They stopped my books. Umar Khalid is in jail. Sharjeel Imam is in jail. Surendra Gadling is in jail. There are dozens of such people across the country. I am one of them," the Times of India quoted Tejpal.

The conviction stems from allegations that Tejpal sexually assaulted a junior colleague inside a hotel elevator during an event at a five-star hotel in Goa in November 2013. The Bombay High Court delivered the verdict after allowing the Goa government's appeal against a 2021 sessions court judgment that had acquitted him.

The court convicted Tejpal under Sections 376(2)(f) and 376(2)(k) of the Indian Penal Code, sentencing him to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment and imposing a ₹5 lakh fine. It also held him guilty under Sections 354A and 354B relating to sexual assault and offences against a woman's dignity.

Tejpal sought a lighter sentence, citing his age, 62, and family circumstances, but the court rejected the plea. He has announced plans to challenge the High Court verdict before a higher court.