Tarun Tejpal surrenders in Goa court following SC order in 2013 sexual assault case | VIDEO

Mapusa (Goa): Former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal surrendered before the Mapusa court in Goa on Monday following directives from the Supreme Court, which required him to submit to custody before his appeal against his conviction could be considered.

The matter originates from allegations brought by a female colleague who accused Tejpal of sexually assaulting her inside a hotel elevator in Goa on November 7 and 8, 2013. He was initially arrested on November 30, 2013 in connection with the charges.
 

Last month, the apex court dismissed Tejpal's petition requesting an exemption from surrendering ahead of the hearing on his appeal against the Bombay High Court's judgment. A bench led by Justice Alok Aradhe instructed him to surrender within three weeks and present a formal surrender certificate to the court, setting a conditional hearing date for his criminal appeal on September 22.

Seeking relief, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Tejpal, contended that the court possesses the authority to waive the surrender mandate in exceptional cases and schedule the appeal accordingly. Sibal emphasised that Tejpal's petition challenges the High Court's decision to overturn his earlier acquittal.

Opposing the plea, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, appearing for the State of Goa, argued that exemption requests must be evaluated against the gravity of the case. Mehta cited the High Court's findings, noting that the case concerns an aggravated offense of rape carrying a 10-year rigorous imprisonment sentence.

Responding to the arguments, Justice Aradhe noted that the bench was assessing the exemption request specifically because it held the jurisdiction to do so. The court directed both sides to limit their arguments strictly to the matter of the surrender exemption.

Upon Tejpal's counsel requesting three weeks to comply, the bench formally rejected the exemption petition, instructed him to surrender within that timeframe, and confirmed his appeal would be listed on September 22 upon submission of the proof.
ANI