Supreme Court Issues Notice On Tarun Tejpal’s Plea Against 10-Year Sentence In 2013 Rape Case, Hearing Likely On October 15
Supreme Court issued notice to the State of Goa on former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal’s challenge to the Bombay High Court judgment sentencing him to 10 years’ imprisonment in the 2013 rape case and indicated that the matter may be heard on October 15
Supreme Court issues notice to Goa on Tarun Tejpal’s challenge to 10-year sentence in 2013 rape case
The Supreme Court on Friday, September 25, issued notice to the State of Goa on a petition filed by former Tehelka magazine editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal challenging the Bombay High Court judgment sentencing him to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment in a 2013 rape case.
The Bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and Prasanna B. Varale heard the matter.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal appeared for Tejpal, while Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for the State of Goa.
Sibal submitted that the case involved reversal of an acquittal by the High Court and pointed out that Tejpal had surrendered pursuant to the High Court’s directions.
“This is a case of reversal; there is a right of appeal, I have surrendered,” Sibal submitted.
The Bench agreed to issue notice to the State of Goa.
Sibal thereafter requested an early date for hearing Tejpal’s plea concerning suspension of sentence. The Bench indicated that the request would be considered.
During the hearing, the State opposed the plea. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted, “Rape never takes place for years, one day is enough.”
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi also appeared and submitted that the punishment imposed on Tejpal was “staggering”.
Tejpal’s counsel sought an earlier date for the matter, noting that the High Court had earlier suspended the sentence before subsequently directing him to surrender.
Last month, Justice Alok Aradhe had directed Tejpal to surrender within three weeks and file a surrender certificate by September 22, following which his appeal was to be heard on merits.
Tejpal had been acquitted by the trial court in 2021 in connection with the alleged rape of a colleague at a hotel in Goa in 2013. The Bombay High Court subsequently overturned the acquittal and convicted him, sentencing him to 10 years’ imprisonment.
The State of Goa has also approached the Supreme Court seeking enhancement of Tejpal’s sentence to life imprisonment, while not challenging the finding of conviction.
The Supreme Court matter is likely to be listed for hearing on October 15.
Background
The Goa government also approached the Supreme Court seeking enhancement of the 10-year rigorous imprisonment sentence awarded to the Tehelka founder in the 2013 sexual assault case.
The move came days after the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court convicted Tejpal and sentenced him to 10 years in prison on August 6, overturning his acquittal by the trial court in 2021. The High Court had also directed the 63-year-old journalist to surrender before the Goa Police within four weeks.
The case dates back to November 2013, when a junior Tehelka employee accused Tejpal of sexually assaulting her inside a hotel elevator at a Goa resort during the magazine’s annual Thinkfest event. Tejpal was prosecuted under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including provisions relating to rape and assault or criminal force against a woman.
The trial court had acquitted him in 2021. However, while overturning the acquittal, the High Court described the trial court's judgment as “perverse” and criticised its approach to assessing the complainant's testimony, particularly the expectation that a survivor should behave like a “perfect victim” to be considered credible.
A complaint was filed against Tejpal for sexually assaulting his colleague in a hotel in Goa in November 2013. Tejpal was charged with offences punishable under Sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), 354 (assault or criminal force with intent to outrage modesty), 354-A (sexual harassment), 354-B (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 376(2)(f) (person in a position of authority over women committing rape) and 376(2)(k) (rape by a person in a position of control) of the IPC.
He was acquitted by the trial court in May 2021, following which the State of Goa challenged the acquittal before the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court. On Thursday, the High Court allowed the State's appeal, convicted Tejpal and sentenced him to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment.
Case Title: Tarunjit Tejpal v. State of Goa
Bench: Justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale
Hearing Date: September 25, 2026