Surrender in 2 weeks: SC denies Tarun Tejpal urgent relief in rape conviction

The Supreme Court on Tuesday denied urgent relief to former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal in the 2013 rape case, and directed him to surrender within two weeks before his appeal against the conviction is heard.The case was heard by Justice Alok Aradhe, who rejected the contention put forth by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Tejpal, that the 62-year-old need not surrender for his appeal to be heard.The court instead said that it would hear Tejpal's appeal against his conviction only after he surrenders and files a surrender certificate.During the hearing, Sibal argued that the Bombay High Court had already granted Tejpal four weeks to surrender in its August 6 judgment in the 2013 case. However, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the State of Goa, opposed the petition and said that the 62-year-old's appeal could not be heard unless he went to prison or obtained an exemption from surrender. The Supreme Court accordingly directed Tejpal to surrender within two weeks and file the surrender certificate, after which his appeal can be considered on merits."Appellant shall surrender within a period of two weeks and file his surrender certificate. In case the surrender certificate is filed on or before September 22, the office is directed to list the matter in court on September 22," the bench said in its order. The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court had overturned Tejpal's acquittal by the trial court and convicted him in the 2013 case wherein he raped an employee. He was subsequently sentenced to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment.During the verdict, the bench comprising Justices Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar said that the incident happened nearly 13 years earlier and that there was no report of any subsequent criminal misconduct by Tejpal. As a result, it rejected the Goa government's plea for the maximum punishment of life imprisonment and imposed the minimum sentence prescribed for the offence.The Goa government has also approached the Supreme Court seeking enhancement of Tejpal's sentence to life imprisonment. The state, however, has not challenged the High Court's finding of conviction.Tejpal had raped a junior colleague inside an elevator at a luxury hotel in Goa in November 2013 during an event organised by Tehelka. The Goa Sessions Court acquitted him in 2021, following which the state government appealed against the acquittal before the Bombay High Court.Following the verdict on August 6, Tejpal called himself a "political victim"."There are no facts that I can tell you now, because for 13 years we have been putting facts out consistently in the courtrooms. Clearly, they don't count for that much," he said, adding that he has a wife and is a father of two daughters."All I can say is we can go and appeal," he further said.- EndsPublished By: Devika BhattacharyaPublished On: Aug 25, 2026 13:50 IST