Tejpal Sought LeniencyBefore the sentence was pronounced, senior advocate Aabad Ponda, appearing for Tejpal, urged the Court to adopt a lenient approach. Concluding his submissions, he urged the High Court to send a clear constitutional message on sexual consent. ConvictionEarlier today, the High Court convicted Tejpal by overturning the trial court's judgment that had acquitted him in May 2021. He was acquitted by the trial court in May 2021, following which the State of Goa challenged the acquittal before the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court. On Thursday, the High Court allowed the State's appeal, convicted Tejpal and sentenced him to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment.