Former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal surrendered before a Goa court on Monday (September 14, 2026) to serve his 10-year rigorous imprisonment sentence in a 2013 sexual assault case.
A SC bench of Justice Alok Aradhe had dismissed Tejpal’s plea seeking exemption from surrendering. On August 25, the Supreme Court had directed Tejpal to surrender within three weeks to undergo his 10-year prison sentence following his conviction by the Bombay High Court. The Supreme Court had listed his appeal challenging his conviction and sentence for hearing on September 22, subject to the filing of the surrender certificate.
Tejpal surrendered before the Additional Sessions Court at Mapusa, after which he was sent to Central Jail at Colvale in North Goa to begin serving his sentence.
The HC had imposed a fine of more than ₹10 lakh, with the court directing that the amount be paid to the victim.
The High Court also criticised the trial court’s approach towards the conduct of the complainant, saying that a survivor of sexual assault cannot be expected to behave according to stereotypes of an “ideal victim”.
On August 6, the Bombay HC convicted Tejpal of raping a junior colleague inside a hotel elevator in November 2013 during an event organised by the magazine in Goa and sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for 10 years, overturning his acquittal by the trial court five years ago.
“In case the surrender certificate is filed on or before September 21, 2026, the registry shall list the criminal appeal for hearing on September 22, 2026 before the regular court,” it had said.
