NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal to surrender within two weeks in connection with the 2013 Goa sexual assault case.The direction comes after Tejpal challenged the Bombay high court’s August 6 judgment, which overturned his acquittal by a trial court and convicted him in the case. The high court sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.The Supreme Court’s latest direction means Tejpal will have to surrender before serving the sentence, subject to any further orders in his appeal.The case relates to allegations that Tejpal sexually assaulted a junior colleague inside a hotel elevator in Goa in November 2013 during an event organised by Tehelka magazine.Also read: Tarun Tejpal moves Supreme Court against Bombay HC conviction, 10-year jail termA Goa sessions court had acquitted Tejpal of all charges in May 2021, holding that the prosecution had failed to establish its case beyond reasonable doubt.The Goa government challenged the acquittal before the Bombay High Court, which overturned the trial court’s verdict on August 6 and convicted Tejpal.The high court subsequently sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.Tejpal, through advocate Aditya Samaddar, moved the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court judgment. The Goa government has also approached the Supreme Court seeking a life sentence, arguing that the 10-year punishment was inadequate considering the nature and seriousness of the offences.
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The case dates back to November 2013, when a junior journalist accused Tejpal of sexually assaulting her inside an elevator at a five-star hotel in Goa.Tejpal was arrested on November 30, 2013, and was later charged under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including rape, sexual harassment and assault with intent to disrobe.He had pleaded not guilty to the charges.Following his conviction by the Bombay High Court, Tejpal had told the court that he was 62 years old and the father of two children. He had also claimed that he was being targeted for political reasons.
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