SC rejects Tarun Tejpal's surrender exemption plea, asks him to surrender in two weeks

The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal's plea seeking exemption from surrender in the 2013 rape case. The court directed him to surrender within two weeks.

Tejpal was convicted of raping a female journalist and sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. He has filed an appeal against the conviction in the Supreme Court.

Under the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, an appeal against conviction cannot be listed for hearing unless the appellant surrenders or obtains an order exempting him from surrender. The court had earlier refused to list the appeal until the exemption application was decided.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had argued that Order XX Rule 3 of the rules makes surrender mandatory. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Tejpal, had pressed for early listing of the exemption plea.

The Goa government opposed the plea, saying Tejpal should have surrendered before challenging the conviction. It has separately moved the court seeking a longer jail term.

In his appeal, Tejpal has contended that the statements of the victims are inconsistent with CCTV footage, reported media.

The Bombay High Court convicted Tejpal on August 6. He moved the Supreme Court against the conviction on August 20.