Supreme Court directs Tarun Tejpal to surrender within two weeks

The Supreme Court on August 25, 2026, directed journalist Tarun Tejpal to surrender within two weeks in the 2013 rape case in which the Bombay High Court sentenced him to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment.

A single-judge bench of Justice Alok Aradhe said the appeal against conviction would be listed for hearing only after the surrender certificate is filed on or before September 22, 2026.

Tejpal, former editor-in-chief of Tehelka, had sought exemption from surrender so that the appeal could be heard first. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal argued for him. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the State of Goa, opposed the request and cited Supreme Court Rules requiring surrender before an appeal is listed.

The bench dismissed the exemption application. The High Court had earlier granted four weeks to surrender after its August 6 judgment upholding the conviction for the sexual assault of a junior colleague inside a hotel elevator during a Tehelka event in Goa.

The Goa government has also appealed seeking enhancement of the sentence to life imprisonment. Tejpal moved the Supreme Court on August 20 challenging the High Court order.

Justice Aradhe had on August 24 adjourned the matter, noting that until suitable orders were passed on the exemption application, the appeal could not be listed. The court referred to earlier precedent holding that surrender is mandatory unless specifically exempted.