india

Updated: Sep 28, 2017 15:56 IST

A Goa court on Thursday formally framed charges against former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal in connection with the rape of a colleague.

Tejpal has been charged under sections 342 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), 376 (rape), among others.

Here’s all you need to know about the case:

• The Tehelka founder was accused by a woman colleague of sexually assaulting her in an elevator of a five-star hotel during the magazine’s THiNK 2013 festival in Goa in November that year.

As per the complaint, the victim was reportedly sexually assaulted by Tejpal on November 7 and the offence was repeated on November 8.

• The allegations kicked up a storm and forced Tejpal, who had admitted to “bad lapse of judgment”, to quit as the editor. He tendered an unconditional apology for what he termed as his misconduct with a female colleague.

• In his primary appeal, Tejpal had said that the charges of rape against him are false and had blamed the state for delaying the matter for three years. He claimed the case against him was political vendetta.

• Tejpal has been charged under Sections 376(2)F and 376(2)K of the Indian Penal Code, among others. These stringent provisions, introduced after the 2012 rape and murder of a young physiotherapist in Delhi, say a person who is in a position of power and trust faces a maximum of life imprisonment for rape.

He has been out on bail since May 19, 2014 after being arrested in November a year before.

• On January 17, 2015, the Supreme Court of India had stayed the trial against Tejpal in connection with his alleged role in a sexual assault case for a period of three weeks.

• Tejpal moved a petition under section 327 (3) to keep media and other people away from the court proceedings and allow the hearing to be held in the presence of only the applicant, respondents and their counsels. The court granted his request.

• The investigating officer had noted that there are incriminating emails in this regard containing his apology, email letters to the victim regarding rape, sexual harassment, and outraging her modesty which were retrieved at his instance.

“The context that ill-fated evening, of our conversation, as you will recall, was heavily loaded. We were playfully and flirtatiously talking about desire, sex,” the e-mail sent by Tejpal to the victim read. He said the incident took place in a “frivolous, laughing mood” and he had no idea that you (victim) were upset, or felt I had been even remotely non-consensual”.

• After the incident, former Tehelka managing editor Shoma Chaudhury came under heavy criticism for trying to “cover up” the alleged charges of sexual assault and resigned.

She denied the allegations against her in her resignation letter: “While I accept that I could have done many things differently and in a more measured way, I reject the allegations of a cover-up because in no way could the first actions that were taken be deemed suppression of any kind.”