Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Supreme Court has refused to grant relief to former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal, rejecting his application seeking suspension of his conviction and 10-year prison sentence in the 2013 rape case.
Tejpal had approached the apex court challenging the Bombay High Court’s decision overturning his acquittal and finding him guilty of sexually assaulting a junior colleague at a luxury hotel in Goa.
Through his plea, Tejpal sought suspension of the conviction and sentence while his appeal against the High Court judgment remained pending. He also sought release on bail.
The prosecution opposed his request, maintaining that the evidence on record supported the High Court’s findings and did not justify granting him interim relief.
After considering the submissions from both sides, the Supreme Court declined to suspend the sentence and rejected his bail plea.
The case dates back to November 2013, when a junior woman colleague accused Tejpal of sexually assaulting her inside an elevator at a five-star hotel in Bambolim, Goa, during a Tehelka-organised event.
A trial court acquitted Tejpal in 2021. However, the Bombay High Court subsequently overturned the acquittal and convicted him, imposing a 10-year prison sentence.
Tejpal challenged the High Court’s verdict before the Supreme Court. He is currently serving his sentence at Colvale Jail in Goa.
