SC to consider Tarun Tejpal's plea for exemption from surrender

The Supreme Court of India will decide on former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal's request for an exemption from surrender following his conviction and 10-year prison sentence in a 2013 rape case by the Bombay High Court. The Goa government has opposed his plea, stating that his appeal is not admissible as he has not filed a separate application seeking exemption from surrender or provided a certificate that he has already surrendered, as required by Order XXII Rule 5 of the Supreme Court Rules, 2013.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that Tejpal's appeal depends on whether he files the surrender certificate or requests an exemption from surrender. Tejpal's lawyer, Kapil Sibal, contended that Tejpal does not need to surrender yet since the high court has granted him time to surrender. Justice Alok Aradhe, hearing both sides, stated that he will issue an appropriate order on the matter.

The Goa High Court had convicted Tejpal under multiple provisions of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment each under sections 376(2)(f) and 376(2)(k), with concurrent sentences for offenses such as outraging a woman's modesty, sexual harassment, disrobing, wrongful restraint, and wrongful confinement. Tejpal was also ordered to pay a fine of Rs 10.1 lakh to the victim.