Goa bench of Bombay High Court admits appeal of Goa Government against acquittal of Tarun Tajpal in the rape case

ON Saturday, a Bombay high court bench at Goa admitted the appeal filed by the Goa government against the acquittal of Tehelka magazine's former editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal, in a rape case. The bench observed that the reasoning reflected in the acquittal order requires deeper scrutiny and appreciation and the appeal raised arguable points.

A division bench of Justices  M. S. Sonak and R. N. Laddha passed the order to this effect on an application moved by the state government under section 378(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code[CrPC] seeking leave to appeal against the judgment of the sessions court acquitting Tejpal of offences under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force with intent to outrage modesty), 354A ((sexual harassment), 354B (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe),) 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), 376 (2)(f) (person in a position of authority over women, committing rape) and 376(2)(k) (rape by person in position of control).

As per Section 378(1) and 378(3) of the CrPC, the State Government may, in any case, direct the Public Prosecutor to present an appeal to the High Court from an original or appellate order of acquittal passed by any Court other than a High Court or an order of acquittal passed by the Court of Session in revision, and no appeal against the acquittal be entertained by the high court without its leave.

Granting the leave to the appeal, the high court opined that deeper scrutiny and reappreciation may be necessary of the evidence of Tejpal's SMS, Whatsapp, and Email messages sent to the complainant.

"This examination, we believe, is essential for several reasons that need not be elaborated. Suffice to state that this evidence has to be evaluated from the context of corroboration of the victim's testimony in the matter. Based on this evidence, perhaps, some of the learned Additional Sessions Judge's inferences about the victim's conduct may also need a revisit", the division bench held.

It added that the inference from the victim's conduct of consulting some lawyers before lodging her complaint may also require a revisit. Besides, it also observed that the contention about the alleged admissions in the messages or the proper scope of such statements also requires consideration.  The sessions court had drawn an adverse inference against the complainant from her conduct of consulting some lawyers before lodging her complaint, and from her messages exchanged with others before and after her complaint.

Also Read: Trial judge in Tarun Tejpal's case ordered by Bombay HC to redact all references to survivors' identity

The bench also rejected the preliminary objections raised by senior advocate Mihir Desai, on behalf of Tejpal, as to the maintainability of the appeal filed by the state government.  Desai sought to argue that there was no decision of the state government to direct the Public Prosecutor to institute the application/appeal. In addition, he argued, that the decision, if any, was a product of the non-application of mind and failure to take into account the relevant considerations. He pointed out that the acquittal judgment and order was pronounced on May 21, 2021, by merely declaring that Tejpal was acquitted of the offenses. Even before any copy or certified copy of impugned judgment and order running into almost 527 pages could be obtained by the State Government or its officers, this application was lodged in a hurry on May 24, 2021, Desai submitted.

Rejecting the submissions, the high court held that the appeal was signed by Additional Public Prosecutor, and hence, the contention about improper presentation could not be accepted. On the issue of whether the State Government had any decision to institute an application seeking leave to appeal, the high court found that it had indeed decided to institute this application/appeal.

"This decision is in the form of notings/endorsements in the files and below the note forwarded by the Advocate General, State of Goa. The decision is in the form of signatures/endorsements of the Chief Minister and other officials of the State Government. Therefore, it is futile to contend that there is no decision at all taken by the State Government to direct the Additional Public Prosecutor to institute/present this application", the high court held.

Also read: The Tarun Tejpal Judgment was required to answer two simple questions but failed to do so

On the issue of non-application of mind, and hurriedly filing the appeal, the high court observed that a State Government might legitimately entertain a perception that such an acquittal must be tested before the High Court. It added that the state government might legitimately entertain a perception that there was clear and compelling evidence on record, based upon which no acquittal was possible. Besides, the Government may legitimately entertain a perception that the Sessions Court may not have appropriately appreciated the law, particularly on the onus of proof or the credence to a victim's testimony, the high court felt. Finally, the State could have legitimately entertained a perception that such a decision was necessary to protect the victim's identity.

"The documented evidence running over 6000 pages was already available to the State Government. Even based upon the same, there is nothing wrong if the State Government believed that this acquittal was required to be tested before the High Court. At this stage, we are only concerned with the decision to institute an appeal or an application seeking leave to appeal against acquittal. Ultimately, whatever the perception or reasons that may have prompted the State Government to take such a decision, the High Court will have to determine whether any case is made out for grant of such leave and, consequently, for the entertainment of the appeal", the high court held rejecting the arguments on the maintainability of the state's appeal.

In her 527-page judgment delivered on May 21 last year, the Additional Sessions Judge, Kshama Joshi, said that the complainant's actions such as "proactively" sending messages to the accused about her location in the aftermath of the alleged sexual assault did not support her "narrative of extreme implausibility". The complainant had not exhibited any kind of "normative behaviour" such as trauma and shock which a victim of sexual assault might show, the judge opined.

Ruling that there was no medical evidence and there were "facts" that "create doubt on (her) truthfulness," the court said the woman's messages to the accused "clearly establish" that she was neither "traumatised nor terrified" and this "completely belies" the prosecution's case.

Solicitor General(SG) Tushar Mehta appearing for the Goa government submitted that the trial court verdict showed a complete lack of sensitivity for crime against the women and a complete absence of knowledge on the subject. Mehta pointed out that during the cross-examinations, the trial judge remained a mute spectator and did not prevent the defence from asking questions that brazenly shamed the victim, Mehta said.

"We can't make out whether the victim was on trial or the accused," Mehta remarked. He also pointed out that the amendment to the Evidence Act in 2013 prohibits the defence from referring to the past sexual conduct or history of the victim.

This judgment also defines unfortunately what is the ideal conduct of the victim of sexual harassment during and after the harassment, Mehta argued.

Mehta, in particular, referred to page 292 of the judgment in which the trial court said, "this was a narrative of extreme implausibility" and that it was not possible to believe that the prosecutrix, a woman who is aware of laws, intelligent, alert, and yoga trainer would not ward off the accused if she was being pushed the wall, especially when she was facing him and especially when the accused was coming uncomfortably close to her in a private space.

Mehta also brought to the notice of the court the reference made by the trial judge regarding senior advocates Indira Jaising and Rebecca John. He said the victim approaching these two lawyers had gone against the victim.

"If the victim had come to me for my guidance, I would have told her to meet Ms Jaising and Ms John. John is an eminent lawyer on the criminal side. Ms Jaising is discarded (by the sessions judge) because she is a feminist. I am posing a question to myself from day one: whether being a feminist is a negative qualification in this country" Mehta said.

Click here to read the order.