Supreme Court orders former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal to surrender in 3 weeks

The Supreme Court has directed former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal to surrender within three weeks in connection with a sexual assault case. The order came as the court dismissed his plea for exemption from surrendering, a request that was opposed by the Goa government.

Tejpal was convicted by a trial court in Goa in May 2021 for sexually assaulting a woman colleague in 2013. He was sentenced to three years of imprisonment. The Bombay High Court later suspended the sentence and granted him bail in 2022. However, the Supreme Court intervened after an appeal was filed against the bail order. Subsequently, Tejpal approached the apex court seeking to avoid surrendering, citing his pending appeal against the conviction.

During the hearing, the Goa government argued that Tejpal's appeal was not admissible because he had not complied with Order XXII Rule 5 of the Supreme Court Rules, 2013. According to this provision, a convicted person who has been sentenced to imprisonment must either file a separate application seeking exemption from surrendering or produce a certificate confirming that he has already surrendered. The state government submitted that Tejpal had done neither, and thus his plea should be rejected.

The Supreme Court, after considering the submissions, directed Tejpal to surrender within three weeks. The ruling effectively means that Tejpal will have to undergo the sentence imposed by the trial court unless a higher court provides relief during the pendency of his appeal. The court's decision also sets aside any earlier interim protection that may have been in place.

Following the court's order, the Goa Police have registered an FIR against Tejpal. The specific details of the FIR have not been officially disclosed, but it is understood to be part of the ongoing legal process connected to the case.

Tejpal, a prominent journalist and former editor of the news magazine Tehelka, has consistently denied the allegations. His legal team has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the Supreme Court's directive. The case has been closely followed since the incident came to light in 2013, as it involves a high-profile figure in Indian journalism and raises questions about workplace safety and accountability.

The Supreme Court's decision adds to the legal scrutiny that Tejpal has faced over the past several years. The next step will be his surrender within the stipulated three-week period, unless an interim order is obtained from the court in the meantime. The matter remains listed for further proceedings, and the legal community will be watching the developments closely.