Supreme Court refuses to suspend Tarun Tejpal’s 10-year sentence in 2013 rape case

Tejpal was convicted under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 376(2)(f) (rape committed by a person in a position of trust or authority), 354(a) (sexual harassment) and 354(b) (assault or use of criminal force with intent to disrobe). File | Photo Credit: The Hindu

In a setback to journalist Tarun Tejpal, the Supreme Court on Friday (November 6, 2026) refused to suspend the 10-year sentence handed down to him in a 2013 rape case.

A Bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and Prasanna B. Varale said it was not inclined to suspend the sentence. “We don’t find it to be a fit case to grant suspension of sentence,” the Bench said while hearing Tejpal’s application.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Tejpal, referred to the evidence and other materials in the case and argued that the “whole story is false”. Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the Goa government, opposed the plea and said it was a case for enhancing the sentence.

On August 6, 2026, the Bombay High Court convicted Tejpal, the former editor of Tehelka magazine, of rape and sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for 10 years, overturning his acquittal by the trial court five years ago. He was convicted of raping a junior colleague in a hotel elevator in 2013, during an event organised by the magazine in Goa. Tejpal, 62, has claimed he was a victim of political vendetta.

On August 25, 2026, the Court had directed Tejpal to surrender within three weeks to undergo his sentence, and had dismissed his plea seeking exemption from surrendering. He subsequently surrendered before the trial court.

Tejpal was convicted under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 376(2)(f) (rape committed by a person in a position of trust or authority), 354(a) (sexual harassment) and 354(b) (assault or use of criminal force with intent to disrobe). The maximum punishment under Section 376(2)(f) is life imprisonment.

On August 20, 2026, Tejpal moved the Court challenging the High Court order. The Goa government has also approached the Court seeking an enhanced sentence, contending that the case warranted imprisonment for life and that the High Court’s sentence was grossly disproportionate to the gravity of the offences.

In its 81-page judgment, the High Court had termed the trial court’s 2021 order “perverse”, noting that it fell for the notion that a sexual assault complainant must be a “perfect victim” and conduct herself in a certain way to appear credible.

It also expressed strong disapproval of the way the defence put the complainant in the dock and focused on her personal life, and said it found it surprising that the trial court “remained silent and allowed the defence to harass and humiliate her during the cross-examination”.

Published - November 06, 2026 03:57 pm IST