Supreme Court refuses to suspend Tarun Tejpal’s 10-year sentence

The Supreme Court of India has refused to suspend the 10-year rigorous imprisonment sentence awarded to former Tehelka Editor-in-Chief Tarun Tejpal in a 2013 rape case. A Bench consisting of Justices M. M. Sundresh and Prasanna B. Varale stated that a prima facie assessment of prosecution evidence, including emails and messages, did not warrant a suspension of the sentence while his appeal is pending.

Tejpal is challenging a Bombay High Court judgment that overturned a previous acquittal by a sessions court. The High Court convicted him under several sections of the Indian Penal Code related to sexual assault. The case stems from allegations that Tejpal sexually assaulted a junior colleague in a hotel elevator in Goa in November 2013.

Legal counsel for Tejpal argued that the sentence should be suspended as he had remained on bail throughout the trial without misusing his liberty. However, the Solicitor General, representing the Goa government, cited an apology email sent by Tejpal to the complainant as part of the evidence.