Goa government says will appeal 2013 rape case acquittal of journalist Tarun Tejpal
After a Sessions Court in Goa acquitted founder and former Editor-in-Chief of Tehelka Magazine Tarun Tejpal of all charges in the alleged sexual assault case, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said the state government will appeal against this verdict in the high court.
“The state government will appeal against this verdict in the high court. The government is very serious about this. The State Government will not tolerate crime against women and will continue to fight till justice is delivered,” Sawant told ANI.
Tejpal, who was already out on bail, was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2013.
He was arrested on November 30 in 2013 after allegedly raping his colleague at a five-star resort in North Goa.
On September 29, 2017, the court had charged him with various Sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including rape, sexual harassment, and wrongful confinement. He, however, pleaded not guilty.
Following the framing of charges, Tejpal moved the Supreme Court seeking quashing of the charges levelled against him.
In August, the top court refused to quash the charges and directed the trial to be concluded within six months.
ANI