Trial court misread evidence linked to Tejpal case victim’s social media activity: Goa govt tells HC
PANAJI: (Jun 24) The Goa government on Wednesday argued before the Bombay High Court that the trial court, while acquitting Tehelka founder-editor Tarun Tejpal in a sexual assault case, had misread evidence pertaining to the victim’s social media activity and had character-assassinated her.
The state’s appeal challenges the controversial 2021 sessions court ruling that acquitted Tejpal. In that judgment, the trial court faced intense public backlash after ruling that the complainant, a young journalist who worked under Tejpal, did not demonstrate the “normative behaviour” expected of a sexual assault victim.
Senior advocate Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Goa government, argued before the division bench of Justices Amit Borkar Jamsandekar and Neela Gokhale that Tejpal’s acquittal by the trial court was based on erroneous appreciation of evidence. He urged the HC to carefully scrutinise the trial court’s judgment.
Loading ...