The Supreme Court has scheduled for November 3 the final hearing of former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal’s appeal challenging his conviction and 10-year rigorous imprisonment sentence in the 2013 rape case. The Court will also consider the Goa government’s plea seeking enhancement of his sentence to life imprisonment.
A Bench comprising Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice Prasanna B. Varale deferred the hearing on Thursday after the Goa government informed the Court that it had filed its response to Tejpal’s appeal. The matter has been tentatively listed for further hearing on November 3.
Tejpal has challenged the August 6 judgment of the Bombay High Court at Goa, which overturned his acquittal by the trial court and convicted him of rape and related offences. The High Court subsequently sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Tejpal, had sought an early hearing of the appeal. Tejpal had earlier been directed by the Supreme Court to surrender before his appeal against the conviction and sentence could be taken up on merits.
On August 25, the Supreme Court rejected his plea seeking exemption from surrender and directed him to surrender within two weeks. The Court made it clear that his appeal would be heard on merits after he complied with the direction and furnished the surrender certificate.
Tejpal surrendered before the Additional Sessions Court at Mapusa, Goa, on September 14 and was subsequently taken to Colvale Central Jail in North Goa to serve his sentence.
The Supreme Court had issued notice to the Goa government on September 25 on Tejpal’s
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