'Another Survivor Humiliated, Let Down': Activists On Tarun Tejpal's Acquittal

Tarun Tejpal Acquittal: Women rights activists said that after Tarun Tejpal was acquitted in a sexual assault case on Friday, one more survivor was " demeaned and humiliated". They said that this decision will further deter other survivors from reporting crimes against them.

Tarun Tajpal, a journalist and former editor-in-chief of Tehelka magazine, was acquitted in a sexual assault case by a Goa sessions court on Friday. The case was filed by a woman who was also Tejpal's colleague at the time. She had alleged that Tejpal sexually assaulted her in an elevator of a five-star resort.

The women's rights activists while speaking to PTI called the judgement disappointing and demotivating.

Akancha Srivastava, a women's rights activist and cyber safety expert told the news agency that Tejpal himself had allegedly admitted to assaulting the woman.

"Half of these cases don't even go in court and those which reach court and are fought and then to have this judgment is extremely demotivating. When a person has already accepted that he has misbehaved, then on what grounds has he been let off. If he is saying he did then he did it," she told PTI.

"I apologise unconditionally for the shameful lapse of judgement that led me to attempt a sexual liaison with you on two occasions...despite your clear reluctance that you did not want such attention from me."

Tejpal's email from 2013.

— Parth MN (@parthpunter) May 21, 2021

She added that the precedents set by such verdicts deter more and more survivors from "coming forward to file cases and fighting it".

Kavita Krishnan, secretary at All India Progressive Women's Association, tweeted about the judgement and said that the judicial system lets down another woman.

"No wonder women do not want to file a complaint with the police," she said in her tweet. Krishnan also said that Tejpal had allegedly admitted to the crime.

She wrote, "Goa police took suo motu notice, got FIR filed. Since then the survivor has been dragged through hell."

At the end of it all, the courageous woman did not get even a tiny taste of justice. Rape trials are deeply violent towards survivors. Yet again, a survivor has been demeaned, humiliated, and let down.

— Kavita Krishnan (@kavita_krishnan) May 21, 2021

In another tweet, Krishnan wrote, "The hell of being yanked around by police, courts, repeatedly to Goa. The hell of having this case tied to her neck like an albatross. The hell of systematic slander campaigns against her by TT (Tarun Tejpal) and Friends. Her integrity being smeared in court and in social parties."

"Rape trials are deeply violent towards survivors. Yet again, a survivor has been demeaned, humiliated, and let down," her tweet read.

Bharatiya Samajik Jagritik Sanghatan's Chhavi Methi also expressed her disappointment over the judgement.

"It is disappointing for the whole humanity because it sets the precedent that someone who has power can get away with anything without any repercussions for their actions," Methi told the news agency.

The Goa police had filed an FIR against Tarun Tejpal in November 2013, he was then arrested.

He charged under sections 342 (wrongful confinement), 354-A (sexual harassment), 341 (wrongful restraint), 354-B (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 376(2)k) (rape by a person in a position of control), 354 (assault or criminal force with intent to outrage modesty), and 376(2)(f) (person in a position of authority over women, committing rape).

Tejpal had been out on bail since May 2014.