SC denies relief to rape convict Tarun Tejpal, directs him to surrender within 2 weeks; know what happened in 2013
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On Tuesday, August 25, the Supreme Court refused to spare former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal, convicted in a rape case, ordering him to turn himself in within two weeks. The Court made clear that it would take up his appeal against conviction in the 2013 rape case only once he had complied.
At the heart of the hearing was whether Tejpal could have his appeal considered without surrendering first. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Goa government, opposed exempting him, arguing that Tejpal was obligated either to surrender and submit proof of doing so, or formally request exemption from surrender.
Justice Aradhe then asked how much time Tejpal would need to surrender, to which Sibal requested two weeks, a timeline the Court accepted, directing Tejpal to surrender within that period and submit the surrender certificate. The Court indicated that if the certificate is filed by September 22, the appeal would be scheduled for hearing on that date.
Tejpal sexually assaulted a junior colleague in an elevator at a luxury hotel in Goa
This development follows Tejpal's recent challenge to the Bombay High Court's August 6 ruling, which had overturned his earlier acquittal in the 2013 rape case. He filed the appeal before the Supreme Court on August 20 through advocate Aditya Samaddar. The Bombay High Court had found the 62-year-old journalist guilty of rape, reversing the trial court's 2021 acquittal, and sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.
Separately, the Goa government has moved the Supreme Court seeking to enhance Tejpal's sentence to life imprisonment, challenging only the severity of the punishment and not the conviction itself. In declining to impose the maximum sentence, the Bombay High Court had taken note of the 13 years that had elapsed since the incident, as well as the absence of any further reported criminal conduct by Tejpal since then. It sentenced him to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment, along with a fine exceeding Rs 10 lakh.
While Tejpal had sought a lighter sentence, the Goa government had pushed for life imprisonment, a demand it is now pursuing before the Supreme Court.
With this latest order, the Supreme Court has made clear that Tejpal must surrender and provide the required certificate before his appeal against conviction can proceed. Should he file the certificate by September 22, his appeal will be taken up for hearing on that date.
Justice Alok Aradhe, hearing Tejpal's plea for exemption from surrender following his conviction and 10-year rigorous imprisonment sentence handed down by the Bombay High Court, passed the order. The Court stated it would begin examining his appeal only after Tejpal submitted a certificate confirming that he had surrendered.
Rape convict Tarun Tejpal (The Guardian)
At the heart of the hearing was whether Tejpal could have his appeal considered without surrendering first. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Goa government, opposed exempting him, arguing that Tejpal was obligated either to surrender and submit proof of doing so, or formally request exemption from surrender.
Citing the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, along with earlier judgments, Mehta argued that any convict contesting a sentence is required to state whether they have surrendered, and if not, must seek exemption. "The existence of the appeal is dependent on either filing a certificate that he has surrendered, or he will have to pray for exemption from surrendering," Mehta told the Court, underscoring the seriousness of the case.
Former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal has challenged the Bombay High Court's 10-year prison sentence in the sexual assault case before the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has asked him to surrender within two weeks, after which it will hear his plea on September 22 pic.twitter.com/A9ca0uzBsL
— IANS (@ians_india) August 25, 2026
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Tejpal, pushed back against the surrender demand and asked for exemption instead, noting that the Bombay High Court had already given his client a four-week window to surrender. Sibal pointed out that the case dated back to 2013 and that Tejpal had spent most of the intervening period out on bail. He further argued that there was little sense in imprisoning Tejpal briefly only for his appeal to be heard shortly after. "There is no point sending him in for 5 days and then his appeal being heard," Sibal contended.
Justice Aradhe then asked how much time Tejpal would need to surrender, to which Sibal requested two weeks, a timeline the Court accepted, directing Tejpal to surrender within that period and submit the surrender certificate. The Court indicated that if the certificate is filed by September 22, the appeal would be scheduled for hearing on that date.
Tejpal sexually assaulted a junior colleague in an elevator at a luxury hotel in Goa
This development follows Tejpal's recent challenge to the Bombay High Court's August 6 ruling, which had overturned his earlier acquittal in the 2013 rape case. He filed the appeal before the Supreme Court on August 20 through advocate Aditya Samaddar. The Bombay High Court had found the 62-year-old journalist guilty of rape, reversing the trial court's 2021 acquittal, and sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.
The case stems from allegations that Tejpal sexually assaulted a junior colleague in an elevator at a luxury hotel in Goa, during a Tehelka-organised event in November 2013. Goa Police had lodged an FIR against him on charges of rape and other offences at the time. Tejpal was arrested that same month and released on bail in July 2014.
Although the trial court had acquitted Tejpal in May 2021, following a trial that began in 2017, the Bombay High Court set aside that verdict on August 6, convicting him instead on charges of rape, sexual harassment, and assault with intent to disrobe. The High Court's conviction fell under provisions of the Indian Penal Code addressing rape, sexual harassment, and assault with intent to disrobe, with the rape charge carrying a minimum sentence of 10 years, extendable to life imprisonment.
Separately, the Goa government has moved the Supreme Court seeking to enhance Tejpal's sentence to life imprisonment, challenging only the severity of the punishment and not the conviction itself. In declining to impose the maximum sentence, the Bombay High Court had taken note of the 13 years that had elapsed since the incident, as well as the absence of any further reported criminal conduct by Tejpal since then. It sentenced him to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment, along with a fine exceeding Rs 10 lakh.
While Tejpal had sought a lighter sentence, the Goa government had pushed for life imprisonment, a demand it is now pursuing before the Supreme Court.
With this latest order, the Supreme Court has made clear that Tejpal must surrender and provide the required certificate before his appeal against conviction can proceed. Should he file the certificate by September 22, his appeal will be taken up for hearing on that date.