• Source:JND
HighLights
  1. Ex-Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal surrendered in Goa court.
  2. Bombay HC overturned acquittal, sentenced him to 10 years
  3. Supreme Court rejected Tejpal's exemption from surrender.

The former Tehelka Editor-in-Chief surrendered before a Goa court on Monday in connection with the 2013 sexual assault case involving a junior colleague. This follows the Bombay High Court's decision to overturn his acquittal and sentence him to 10 years of imprisonment. Tejpal appeared before the Mapusa court in compliance with the Supreme Court's directive to surrender after his exemption request was rejected.

Previously, the Supreme Court has granted him three weeks to surrender and submit a surrender certificate. It said his appeal challenging the Bombay High Court’s conviction and sentence would be listed for hearing on September 22, provided the surrender certificate was filed by September 21.

ALSO READ: Tarun Tejpal Case: Goa Govt Challenges Bombay HC Verdict In Supreme Court, Seeks Life Imprisonment In 2013 Rape Case

What's the case?

The case dates back to November 2013, when a junior woman colleague accused Tejpal of sexually assaulting her inside a hotel elevator in Goa during Tehelka’s ThinkFest event. Tejpal was arrested later that month and remained in custody before being granted bail in July 2014. The trial started in 2017. In May 2021, a Goa Sessions Court acquitted Tejpal of the charges.

ALSO READ: SC Dismisses Tehelka Founder Tarun Tejpal's Plea In Rape Case, Orders Surrender Within Two Weeks

The Goa government challenged the acquittal before the Bombay High Court. Things then took a major turn when the Bombay High Court’s Goa Bench on August 6 overturned the 2021 acquittal and convicted Tejpal of rape and other offences.

The high court then sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. It did not stay the conviction and directed Tejpal to surrender. He then approached the top court challenging the verdict and sought exemption from surrender while his appeal was pending.

The Supreme Court, however, rejected that request on August 25 and directed him to surrender within the stipulated period.

 


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