Tarun Tejpal’s 2013 Rape Conviction Ignored by Congress, Says Sudhanshu Trivedi

Sudhanshu Trivedi, the BJP’s national spokesman, raised pointed questions at a press conference in New Delhi about the Congress’s complete lack of response to Tarun Tejpal’s conviction. The Goa division of the Bombay High Court recently affirmed a ten‑year rigorous imprisonment term for the former editor‑in‑chief of Tahalka on a 2013 rape charge.

According to Trivedi, the Congress has not issued any statement, nor have any opposition leaders or women’s advocacy groups spoken out. He argued that this demonstrates a narrow viewpoint that either shields free speech or tacitly condones violence against women.

Trivedi also referred to a controversial 2001 sting operation allegedly orchestrated by Tahalka, suggesting that the magazine has long been involved in political intrigue. He mentioned a 2004 letter reportedly written by Sonia Gandhi to then‑Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, urging that Tahalka and its financiers should not face harassment.

Further, Trivedi highlighted that in 2010 Law Minister Virbhadra Singh presented Tejpal with an Excellence in Journalism award. "What message does it send when a party celebrates a convicted criminal?" he asked, demanding a transparent explanation of any relationship between the Congress and Tejpal. The BJP spokesperson concluded that the episode reinforces concerns about the party’s alleged tendency to align with individuals under criminal suspicion.