Tarun Tejpal surrenders before Goa court, sent to jail to serve 10-year sentence

Former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal surrendered before the Additional Sessions Court in Mapusa, Goa, on Monday and was sent to Central Jail at Colvale to serve a 10-year rigorous imprisonment sentence in a 2013 sexual assault case.

The surrender followed an August 25 order by the Supreme Court, which directed Tejpal to comply with the sentence before hearing his appeal against the Bombay High Court verdict. The Supreme Court has listed his appeal for September 22, subject to the filing of his surrender certificate.

Tejpal told reporters outside the court that he would continue his legal fight before the Supreme Court and expressed confidence that he would receive justice.

The Bombay High Court’s Goa bench convicted Tejpal on August 6, overturning his acquittal by a Goa sessions court in 2021. The case relates to allegations that he sexually assaulted a junior colleague inside a hotel elevator during Tehelka’s ThinkFest event in Goa in November 2013.

The High Court sentenced him to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment, with the sentences imposed for the various offences to run concurrently. It also imposed fines totalling more than ₹10 lakh, with the amount directed to be paid to the survivor.

Tejpal had challenged the High Court verdict in the Supreme Court on August 20. The Goa government has also approached the apex court seeking enhancement of the sentence to life imprisonment, without challenging the finding of guilt.

The Supreme Court had made it clear that Tejpal’s appeal would be taken up after he surrendered and filed the necessary certificate.