New Delhi: Cara Tejpal, daughter of former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal, has vehemently defended her father, asserting his innocence in a rape case for which he was recently convicted by the Bombay High Court. She claimed to have meticulously reviewed the evidence over the past 13 years, leading to her unwavering belief in his innocence, and urged others to do the same rather than relying on headlines.
Tejpal’s daughter also alleged that the conviction was orchestrated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a party she stated was repeatedly exposed by Tehelka under her father’s leadership.
On Thursday, the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court sentenced Tejpal to 10 years in jail and ordered him to surrender. This ruling overturned a trial court verdict that had acquitted him. The case stems from allegations made by a former junior colleague, who claimed Tejpal sexually assaulted her inside a hotel elevator during the ThinkFest event in Goa in November 2013. The assault reportedly occurred on November 7 and 8, 2013, within the five-star hotel.
Tejpal was arrested on November 30, 2013, and had stepped down as editor-in-chief of Tehelka following the sexual assault allegations.
In May 2021, a trial court in Goa had acquitted him of all charges, including wrongful confinement, assault or criminal force with intent to outrage modesty, sexual harassment, and rape. However, the Goa government subsequently challenged this verdict.
Tarun Tejpal himself has stated that he is a victim of political maneuvering and plans to appeal his conviction to the Supreme Court.
In a public statement, Cara Tejpal emphasized Tehelka’s “independent and fearless” journalism, which she argued “brought the ire of the state upon its founding editor – my father.” She further elaborated, “Tarun Tejpal was more than a thorn in the side of the BJP government, and what better way to silence him than to portray him as the most reviled of all sinners – a rapist. Such a genius stroke; anyone who dare question the assertion invites the wrath of the righteous public.”
