# BJP questions Congress silence on Tejpal conviction, targets Rahul Gandhi 2026-08-10T11:22:29+00:00 | Politics | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The BJP on Monday accused the Congress of maintaining a deliberate silence on the Bombay High Court’s conviction of former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal for the 2013 rape of a junior colleague. BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi alleged a long-standing nexus between the Congress and Tejpal, citing a 2004 letter from Sonia Gandhi to the finance minister seeking no harassment of Tehelka, and a 2010 journalism award given by a UPA minister. Tejpal, sentenced to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment, plans to appeal to the Supreme Court. Trivedi also attacked Rahul Gandhi over the ongoing student protests in Jharkhand, accusing him of double standards by speaking on other student agitations but staying silent on the Ranchi stir. The protests, which began over alleged paper leaks, have expanded to include demands related to jobs and recruitment irregularities. ## Coverage - deccanherald.com - timesofindia.indiatimes.com - thehindu.com Tags: BJP, Congress, politics, rape conviction, Tarun Tejpal Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/bjp-targets-congress-over-silence-on-tejpal-rape-conviction/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/bjp-targets-congress-over-silence-on-tejpal-rape-conviction/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.