'Political victim like Umar Khalid': Tarun Tejpal seeks leniency in rape case conviction
Former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal has been sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for a 2013 rape case. Tejpal appealed for leniency, claiming to be a political victim, while the prosecution pushed for a maximum sentence to serve as a deterrent.
Why it matters
The case highlights significant legal developments regarding sexual assault accountability and the judicial process in high-profile cases in India.
NEW DELHI: Moments after the Bombay high court convicted former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal in the 2013 rape case, he appealed for a lenient sentence, describing himself as a "political victim" and drawing a comparison with jailed activist Umar Khalid.Addressing the division bench of Justices Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar after the court reversed his 2021 acquittal, Tejpal said he was 62 years old, a father of two and had been unfairly targeted."I am a political victim," Tejpal told the court, invoking Umar Khalid while pleading for leniency.
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