Sanmarg Group acquires 100% stake in Tehelka.com, plans weekly edition
Synopsis
Kolkata-based Sanmarg Group, Eastern India's largest Hindi media network, has bought 100% of Tehelka.com — the once-iconic investigative magazine — and plans to relaunch it as a weekly publication. The deal closes a turbulent chapter for Tehelka, explicitly severing any link to convicted former editor Tarun Tejpal, and signals a fresh bet on serious journalism in India's crowded media market.
Key Takeaways
Sanmarg Private Limited acquired a 100% stake in Tehelka.com Private Limited , completing the deal in October 2026 .
The acquisition covers all print, digital, and IP assets held since 2017 .
Arvind Chaturvedi has been appointed Chief Editor of Tehelka.
Sanmarg plans to convert the fortnightly magazine into a weekly publication in both print and digital formats.
The statement confirms no involvement of Tarun Tejpal in Tehelka or its operations.
Legacy litigations and earlier guarantees remain the responsibility of Anant Media Pvt Ltd .
Sanmarg Private Limited, Eastern India's largest Hindi media network, has acquired a 100 per cent stake in Tehelka.com Private Limited, the company confirmed in a statement on 4 November 2026. The acquisition marks Sanmarg's entry into the magazine segment and significantly expands its footprint in India's digital media landscape.
Terms of the Acquisition
Sanmarg completed the purchase in October 2026, acquiring all assets of Tehelka — print, digital, and intellectual property held since 2017 — from a group of investors who had earlier bought out the entire shareholding of Tehelka.com Private Limited. Those investors had also facilitated an exit for Tarun Tejpal and other minor investors at the time of their own takeover in 2017. The company statement confirmed there have been no fresh litigations since that earlier change of hands.
Notably, the statement explicitly confirmed no involvement in any capacity of Tejpal in Tehelka or its operations going forward. Tejpal was previously forced to step aside as editor following a sexual assault allegation by a colleague; he was subsequently convicted and sentenced.
Editorial and Publishing Plans
Arvind Chaturvedi has been appointed the new Chief Editor to lead the publication. Sanmarg said it plans to invest further in Tehelka and intends to convert the hitherto fortnightly magazine into a weekly publication, continuing to publish in both print and digital formats. Lifetime subscribers of Tehelka will continue to receive copies and digital subscription access, as applicable.
Legacy Liabilities and Compliance
The erstwhile owner, Anant Media Pvt Ltd, will bear responsibility for all previous litigations in which Tehelka was involved prior to the acquisition, as well as sole responsibility for earlier guarantees, according to the press statement. Sanmarg stated its commitment to full compliance with all applicable government rules, regulations, and standards. 'We also want to fully comply with all government rules and regulations, and all applicable rules, standards and regulations as they stand today, to make a meaningful experience of serious journalism for the Indian public,' the statement read.
About Sanmarg Group
Headquartered in Kolkata, Sanmarg publishes a prominent Hindi daily and is recognised as Eastern India's largest Hindi media network. The Tehelka acquisition represents the group's first foray into the national magazine space and signals a broader ambition to consolidate its position in India's competitive media industry. With the brand's relaunch as a weekly, the group is positioning Tehelka for a renewed presence in serious investigative and political journalism — a space the magazine once dominated before its turbulent years.
Point of View
But its credibility was catastrophically damaged by the Tarun Tejpal case. The new ownership's explicit distancing from Tejpal, combined with a push to weekly frequency, suggests a genuine attempt at a brand reset — but the harder question is whether serious long-form journalism can find a sustainable commercial model in an era dominated by short-form digital content. Sanmarg's strength in Hindi print gives it distribution muscle, but converting that into a national English-language magazine audience is a structurally different challenge.
NationPress
4 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sanmarg acquisition of Tehelka.com?
Sanmarg Private Limited has acquired a 100% stake in Tehelka.com Private Limited, completing the transaction in October 2026. The deal covers all print, digital, and intellectual property assets of Tehelka held since 2017.
Who is the new editor of Tehelka after the acquisition?
Arvind Chaturvedi has been appointed as the new Chief Editor of Tehelka following the acquisition by Sanmarg. He will head the publication as it transitions from a fortnightly to a weekly magazine.
Is Tarun Tejpal involved with Tehelka under the new ownership?
No. The official statement from Sanmarg explicitly confirmed no involvement in any capacity of Tarun Tejpal in Tehelka or its operations. Tejpal had been forced to step aside as editor after a sexual assault allegation and was later convicted and sentenced.
Who is responsible for Tehelka's past legal cases after the sale?
Anant Media Pvt Ltd, the erstwhile owner, retains sole responsibility for all previous litigations involving Tehelka and for earlier guarantees. These liabilities do not transfer to Sanmarg under the acquisition terms.
What are Sanmarg's plans for Tehelka going forward?
Sanmarg plans to invest further in Tehelka and relaunch it as a weekly publication, continuing in both print and digital formats. Lifetime subscribers will continue to receive copies and digital access as applicable.
