The Bombay High Court has reserved its judgment on the Goa government’s appeal challenging the acquittal of former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal in the 2013 sexual assault case. A Division Bench comprising Justice Neela Gokhale and Justice Amit Borkar Jamsandekar concluded the hearings after seven sessions. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the State, argued that the trial court had improperly focused on the complainant’s character and personal life. The State also contended that WhatsApp conversations and post-incident conduct were wrongly relied upon while assessing consent. It maintained that the complainant’s testimony remained consistent. Senior Advocate Aabad Ponda, appearing for Tejpal, defended the acquittal and relied on CCTV footage, electronic communications, panchanama records and expert evidence. The defence argued that objective evidence and alleged inconsistencies contradicted the complainant’s version and that the prosecution had failed to establish the alleged assault.
