India
oi-Madhuri Adnal
The Supreme Court docket on Tuesday directed former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal to give up inside two weeks in reference to the 2013 Goa sexual assault case. The apex courtroom additionally directed him to submit his give up certificates on or earlier than September 22, after which his attraction in opposition to the conviction might be positioned earlier than a Division Bench for consideration on deserves.
The order got here whereas the courtroom was listening to Tejpal’s plea searching for exemption from give up pending his problem to the Bombay Excessive Court docket verdict convicting him and sentencing him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment within the 2013 case.
The Supreme Court docket ordered Tarun Tejpal to give up inside two weeks for the 2013 Goa sexual assault case following his conviction and 10-year sentence by the Bombay Excessive Court docket; his attraction listening to is scheduled for September 22.
Justice Alok Aradhe rejected the arguments superior by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, showing for Tejpal, that his consumer shouldn’t be required to give up earlier than his attraction is heard.
Sibal identified that the Bombay Excessive Court docket had granted Tejpal 4 weeks to give up after its August 6 verdict. He additionally submitted that Tejpal had remained on bail all through the proceedings, aside from a interval of six months, and is now a senior citizen.
Sibal additional relied on the Supreme Court docket (Enlargement of Legal Appellate Jurisdiction) Act, 1970, arguing that the courtroom was not required to resolve the plea for exemption from give up individually earlier than contemplating the attraction on deserves. He submitted that each points may very well be thought of collectively.
The Supreme Court docket had reserved its choice on Tejpal’s plea on Monday after listening to arguments on whether or not he may problem the conviction with out first surrendering.
Solicitor Common Tushar Mehta, showing for the State of Goa, opposed Tejpal’s plea.
Mehta argued that Tejpal’s attraction couldn’t be heard until he first surrendered or obtained an exemption from give up. He additionally opposed reliance on the 1970 Act, declaring that it was momentary laws and that provisions governing the Supreme Court docket’s appellate jurisdiction are actually in place.
The Solicitor Common additional submitted that the character of the offence was related whereas contemplating the aid sought by Tejpal, arguing that he had been convicted of an aggravated type of rape.
The Goa authorities had earlier instructed the Supreme Court docket that Tejpal ought to have surrendered earlier than difficult the conviction. The State has additionally individually approached the apex courtroom searching for enhancement of his sentence to life imprisonment.
After listening to the arguments, Justice Alok Aradhe rejected Tejpal’s plea and directed him to give up inside two weeks.
Tejpal was lately convicted by the Goa bench of the Bombay Excessive Court docket within the 2013 sexual assault case involving a former junior colleague.
On August 6, the Excessive Court docket overturned his acquittal by the trial courtroom and sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. The trial courtroom had acquitted Tejpal in 2021.
Tejpal subsequently approached the Supreme Court docket difficult each his conviction and the 10-year sentence. He additionally sought exemption from surrendering till his attraction was thought of.
The problem of give up turned central to the proceedings earlier than the Supreme Court docket.
On Monday, the Goa authorities had argued that Tejpal ought to have surrendered earlier than approaching the Supreme Court docket together with his attraction. Solicitor Common Tushar Mehta submitted that underneath the Supreme Court docket Guidelines, an accused who has been convicted and sentenced should both give up and produce a give up certificates or search an exemption from give up.
The Supreme Court docket thought of Tejpal’s plea for exemption on Tuesday and directed him to give up inside two weeks.
The courtroom additionally indicated that his attraction in opposition to the conviction could be taken up after he complies with the give up order.
What Is the 2013 Goa Sexual Assault Case?
The case dates again to 2013, when a former feminine colleague accused Tejpal of sexually assaulting her throughout an occasion in Goa.
The allegations led to a high-profile legal case in opposition to the previous journalist.
In 2021, a Goa classes courtroom acquitted Tejpal. The prosecution challenged the acquittal, and the matter finally reached the Bombay Excessive Court docket’s Goa bench.
In August 2026, the Excessive Court docket overturned the acquittal and convicted Tejpal, sentencing him to 10 years in jail.
Tejpal Challenges 10-Yr Jail Sentence
Tejpal has challenged the Bombay Excessive Court docket verdict earlier than the Supreme Court docket, describing the judgment as misguided and opposite to the info and settled legislation.
The Goa authorities has additionally approached the Supreme Court docket, searching for an enhancement of Tejpal’s sentence from 10 years to life imprisonment.
The Supreme Court docket’s route to give up inside two weeks subsequently comes at a vital stage of the long-running case.
For now, Tejpal should give up as directed, whereas his problem to the conviction stays pending earlier than the Supreme Court docket.
