Tehelka's Tarun Tejpal Deep in Scandal

Who is Tarun Tejpal?

Tarun Tejpal, the highly acclaimed editor of Tehelka, was under huge suspicion, and the nation was watching the case with interest. He is the founder of Tehelka, an internet news-and-views outlet known for its legendary sting operations and unmasking of illicit activities by the government.

What was he accused of?

On November 20, 2013, a young colleague accused Tarun Tejpal of sexually assaulting her — telling police that Tejpal misbehaved with her in a lift. He immediately stepped down from Tehelka for six months, calling it "a lapse of judgment."

But days later, he said he was innocent.

What made it political?

Tejpal's work had involved unearthing corruption and faults of the BJP, so his friends and family were of the opinion that he was being wrongly framed by the BJP-led government in Goa, the state where the alleged incident took place. Days after the incident was reported, no FIR had been filed and there was no talk of DNA testing.

The family of the young journalist complained to the Delhi Police of being harassed by Tejpal's men — alleging intimidation and pressure to drop the case.

Sushma Swaraj, then Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, tweeted: "Union Cabinet Minister who is the founder and patron of Tehelka is shielding Tarun Tejpal."

From India Today: Six senior journalists said goodbye to Tehelka after the incident caught fire. Senior editor Rana Ayyub quit, close on the heels of consulting editor Jay Mazoomdaar, assistant editor Revati Laul, and literary editor Shougat Dasgupta. "In view of the present controversy I thought it necessary to discontinue my association with Tehelka," Ayyub wrote, adding: "However, I would always hold the iconic work done by Tehelka in highest regard." Photo editor Ishan Tankha, one of the colleagues the victim first shared the incident with, also ended his stint with the investigative magazine.

How did the case end?

An FIR was eventually filed, and Tejpal was arrested on November 30, 2013. The case went to trial in Goa — and in May 2021, a sessions court acquitted him of all charges. The prosecution appealed the acquittal.

Editor's note: an unsupported claim from the original article about Tejpal's family connections has been removed; one dead NDTV link has been dropped. Allegations and defenses are preserved as originally reported.