In a major development in the 2013 sexual assault case involving former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal, the Goa High Court on Thursday set aside his acquittal and found him guilty of raping a former junior colleague.

A division bench comprising Justices Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar delivered the verdict while hearing the Goa government's appeal against a trial court order that had acquitted Tejpal in 2021.

The case stems from allegations made by a former employee, who accused Tejpal of sexually assaulting her inside an elevator at a luxury hotel in Goa during the ThinkFest event in November 2013.

Following the allegations, criminal proceedings were initiated, and the trial commenced in 2017 before a sessions court in Mapusa. In May 2021, the trial court acquitted Tejpal, prompting the Goa government to challenge the decision before the High Court.

Representing the state, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that the trial court had erred in evaluating the complainant's conduct by relying on preconceived assumptions about how survivors of sexual assault are expected to behave after an incident.

According to the state, there is no uniform or "standard" response to trauma, as reactions can differ significantly depending on a person's circumstances, personality, upbringing and social background.

Senior advocate Abad Ponda appeared on behalf of Tejpal during the proceedings.

The High Court's decision reverses the earlier acquittal and marks a significant turn in one of India's most closely watched cases involving allegations of sexual misconduct in the media industry.