Mumbai, Aug 6: The Bombay High Court on Thursday sentenced former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment in the 2013 sexual assault case involving a junior colleague, hours after setting aside his acquittal and convicting him of rape and other offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

A division bench of Justices Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar announced the sentence and granted Tejpal two weeks’ time to surrender before the jail authorities.

Earlier in the day, the Justice Gokhale-led Bench had allowed the appeal filed by the Goa government against the May 2021 judgment of a sessions court in Mapusa, which had acquitted Tejpal of all charges.

Pronouncing the verdict, the Bombay High Court convicted Tejpal under Sections 376(2)(f) and 376(2)(k) (rape), 354A (sexual harassment) and 354B (assault or use of criminal force against a woman with intent to disrobe) of the IPC. It had then posted the sentencing for later in the day.

During the hearing on the question of sentence, Tejpal’s counsel sought suspension of the conviction for eight weeks to enable him to approach the Supreme Court, submitting that the verdict had reversed an acquittal and highlighting that there was no other criminal case against him.

Addressing the Justice Gokhale-led Bench, Tejpal also pleaded for leniency, stating that he believed himself to be a victim and requested the High Court to take a compassionate view while deciding the sentence.

Opposing the plea, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that the case required a strong message against sexual violence, contending that “when a girl says no, it means no”.

The case stems from allegations made by a junior colleague that Tejpal sexually assaulted her inside an elevator of a luxury hotel in Goa during an event in November 2013.

The Goa Police registered an FIR against Tejpal for offences including rape, following which he was arrested in November 2013 after a local court rejected his anticipatory bail plea.

He was granted regular bail by the Supreme Court in July 2014.

In May 2021, Additional Sessions Judge Kshama Joshi acquitted Tejpal, holding that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt and citing alleged lapses in the investigation, including failure to produce certain evidence such as CCTV footage.

The Goa government challenged the acquittal before the Bombay High Court, contending that the trial court had erred in appreciating the evidence on record.

During the appeal hearing, the prosecution argued that the Sessions Court had focussed on the survivor’s post-incident conduct and background instead of assessing the evidence against the accused. It also submitted that the trial court ignored material evidence, including an apology email allegedly sent by Tejpal after the complainant raised the allegations with the then Managing Editor of the publication.

Lucknow, Aug 6: Former Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Atiq Ahmed’s youngest son Abaan Ahmed died in a fatal car accident on Thursday, said multiple reports.

The deadly mishap happened on the Jhanshi-Kanpur national highway in Uttar Pradesh while Abaan was on his way to meet his brother, imprisoned in extortion and other cases. Their vehicle apparently crashed into a highway divider, leaving the vehicle in ruins.

Preliminary findings suggest rash driving as the reason behind the deadly crash. The images and visuals that surfaced from the accident site show the scale and intensity of the crash. The car’s front portion was completely wrecked in the collision, as the car purportedly hit a road divider.

Abaan Ahmed, the youngest son of the slain gangster-turned-politician, was said to have been behind the wheel during the mishap, and he was accompanied by four other associates. Abaan and one of his aides died in the severe accident, while three others are said to be seriously injured.

The accident occurred when Abaan and his associates were going to meet his jailed brother Ali Ahmed, who is currently incarcerated in a Jhansi prison.

The car met with an accident near the Poonch area on the highway. The police and local administration swung into action after getting information about the fatal crash, and they shifted the critically injured to a nearby hospital. The doctors declared Abaan Ahmed, along with one other, dead on arrival, while three others were administered initial medical aid and subsequently referred to Maharani Laxmibai Medical College.

The police team reached the accident spot and was investigating the reasons behind the fatal accident. The two dead bodies have also been taken into custody and sent for post-mortem.

According to police, over-speeding and rash driving led to loss of control and are believed to be the key reasons behind the fatal accident.

Abaan Ahmed was the youngest son of Atiq Ahmed, while his elder brother Ali Ahmed is currently lodged in Jhansi jail over involvement in multiple cases.

Ali has been in prison in an extortion case. He is an accused in the February 2023 killing of Umesh Pal, the key witness in the BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case.

In 2023, Atiq Ahmed and his brother, Ashraf, were shot dead by three men posing as journalists, as police were taking them for a mandatory medical checkup. The entire episode was beamed live on television, leaving many shocked and appalled over the gruesome murder in full media glare.

Mangaluru, Aug 5: A suspected ragging incident at a reputed private college in Mangaluru left a first-year student with serious neck injuries, following an alleged assault by a group of senior students, police said on Wednesday.

The incident reportedly took place near Juhharakere in Mangaluru, where two first-year students, identified as Adarsh and J. Khadar, were allegedly attacked by senior students.

According to the victims, the seniors objected to the juniors wearing black shoes and picked up an argument, which soon turned violent. The students alleged that they were brutally assaulted by the seniors during the confrontation.

One of the injured students sustained a serious neck injury and was admitted to a hospital. Doctors have reportedly diagnosed him with a neck fracture, and he is currently undergoing treatment.

Personnel from the Pandeshwara Police Station rushed to the spot after receiving information about the incident. Police later visited the hospital and recorded the statement of the injured student.

A case has been registered by the police, and provisions of the anti-ragging law have been invoked in the FIR. Six students have been taken into custody for questioning in connection with the incident.

Mangaluru City Police Commissioner C.H. Sudheer Kumar Reddy said the incident prima facie appears to be a case of ragging.

“The statements of the victims are being recorded by the police. Based on the preliminary findings, an FIR will be registered at the Mangaluru South Police Station, and a detailed investigation will be initiated,” he said.

The Commissioner added that the investigation would ascertain the exact sequence of events and determine the role of those involved in the alleged ragging incident.

Police said further action would be taken based on the findings of the investigation.

According to official records, Karnataka recorded 181 ragging complaints in higher educational institutions between 2022 and July 22, 2026, the highest among South Indian states despite mandatory anti-ragging committees and stricter enforcement measures.

In January, a violent ragging and assault incident occurred at a reputed educational institute in Devanahalli, Bengaluru Rural, resulting in an FIR against 22 to 23 senior students and an outsider, with three key arrests made.