New Delhi, 25 August (H.S.): Former Tehelka journalist Tarun Tejpal, who has been convicted in a case involving the rape of his former colleague, suffered a setback in the Supreme Court, which directed him to surrender within two weeks. Justice Alok Aradhe directed Tejpal to surrender, with the next hearing in the case scheduled for September 22.

During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Goa government, submitted that Tejpal, who was convicted in the rape case, should have surrendered before filing his appeal before the Supreme Court. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Tejpal, argued that there was no need for him to surrender since the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court, in its August 6 judgment, had granted him a one-month stay on the requirement to surrender.

Tejpal has challenged the 10-year sentence imposed on him before the Supreme Court. Separately, the Goa government has also approached the Supreme Court seeking an enhancement of his sentence.

Citing the seriousness of the offence, the Goa government has sought a life sentence for Tejpal. It has challenged the judgment of the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court, which sentenced Tejpal to 10 years' imprisonment each for two offences, with the sentences to run concurrently. The Goa government has argued that the passage of time cannot be allowed to operate to the benefit of the convict.

On August 6, the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court overturned the trial court's decision acquitting Tejpal but sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. The High Court observed that the incident had occurred 13 years earlier and that there was no information indicating that Tejpal had committed any criminal act during the intervening period.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar