While the High Court has now rejected those stereotypes as myths and upheld the victim’s testimony, the initial and prolonged response from sections of the Leftist journalistic and celebrity ecosystem told an opprobrious story of reflexive scepticism and even blaming and protection of Tarun Tejpal, their blue-eyed boy.
A division bench of Justice Dr Neela Gokhale and Justice Amit Jamsandekar pronounced Tarun Tejpal guilty of the offences of rape and sexual harassment under Sections 376(2)(f) and 376(2)(k), in addition to Sections 354A, 354B of the Indian Penal Code.
Back in 2021, Tarun Tejpal was acquitted by a Goa Sessions Court in the sexual assault case. His acquittal was challenged by the Goa government before the High Court.
The investigation disclosed that the girl met a number of the accused at a private bus station in Pathanamthitta after which she was driven to several locations where she endured the heinous violations.
The arrest of the accused has uncovered links to several crimes involving him like robbery, abduction, and the use of stolen funds to acquire assets like a huge farmhouse near Chennai. The accused is a serial offender and has been involved in several criminal cases like theft and sexual assault, as revealed by the police.