Supreme Court Sets November 3 for Final Hearing of Tarun Tejpal's Appeal Against 10-Year Sentence
The Supreme Court will hear on November 3 the final arguments in former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal's appeal against his conviction and 10-year rigorous imprisonment in the 2013 rape case. The Court will also take up the Goa government's plea seeking to increase his sentence to life imprisonment.
A Bench of Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice Prasanna B. Varale postponed the hearing on Thursday after the Goa government told the Court that it had filed its response to Tejpal's appeal. The matter was then tentatively listed for further hearing on November 3.
Tejpal is challenging the August 6 judgment of the Bombay High Court at Goa, which set aside his acquittal by the trial court and convicted him of rape and related offences. The High Court then sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Tejpal, had asked for an early hearing of the appeal. Earlier, the Supreme Court had directed Tejpal to surrender before his appeal could be considered on merits. On August 25, the Court rejected his plea for exemption from surrender and ordered him to surrender within two weeks. It made clear that the appeal would be heard on merits only after he complied with the direction and submitted the surrender certificate.
Tejpal surrendered before the Additional Sessions Court at Mapusa, Goa, on September 14 and was later 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 appeal.
Source: India Legal