Police investigation and the prosecution failed to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt, which led to the acquittal of former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal on the basis of benefit of doubt, Additional District and Sessions judge North Goa Kshama Joshi said in her order.

The judgement was passed on May 21, but excerpts of the 500-odd page judgement were made available in the public domain late on Tuesday, that also pointed out to loopholes in the police investigation into the eight-year-old crime, in which Tejpal was accused of allegedly raping his junior colleague in the elevator of a five star resort in North Goa in 2013.