Supreme Court Shock to Tarun Tejpal, Ordered to Surrender

The Supreme Court has refused to grant former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal exemption from surrender in connection with the 2013 sexual assault case. Rejecting his plea, the court directed Tejpal to surrender within two weeks. He had approached the Supreme Court challenging the Bombay High Court’s August 6 verdict, which overturned the 2021 acquittal granted by a Goa sessions court and convicted him in the case.

The Bombay High Court sentenced Tejpal to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code. The case relates to allegations that he sexually assaulted a junior woman colleague during an event organised by Tehelka in Goa in November 2013. The Goa government has also separately approached the Supreme Court seeking enhancement of the sentence to life imprisonment, while challenging the order directing that the sentences run concurrently.