2013 Tehelka rape case: SC refuses to suspend Tarun Tejpal's 10-year jail term
The Supreme Court of India has denied a request to suspend the 10-year prison sentence of former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal. Tejpal was convicted of raping a junior colleague in 2013, a verdict he is currently challenging after an initial acquittal was overturned.
Why it matters
This case highlights ongoing legal battles regarding sexual assault accountability for high-profile figures in India.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to suspend the 10-year prison sentence of former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal, convicted of raping a junior colleague inside a hotel elevator in Goa in November 2013.A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Prasanna B Varale dismissed Tejpal's application after considering the evidence, including his emails and messages. The bench was of the view that no case had been made out for suspending his sentence, according to Live Law.Tejpal had approached the Supreme Court challenging the Bombay high court's August 6 judgment, which overturned his acquittal by a trial court in 2021 and convicted him in the case.What Tejpal arguedSenior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Tejpal, questioned the victim's account of the incident, particularly her claim that the elevator doors did not open during the alleged assault.Sibal argued that technical evidence showed the elevator doors opened twice during the two minutes and…
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