Tarun Tejpal appeals in Supreme Court against 10-year term in 2013 rape case
Journalist Tarun Tejpal has appealed to the Supreme Court against a 10-year prison sentence for a 2013 rape case, following a Bombay High Court conviction. Simultaneously, the State of Goa has petitioned the court to increase the severity of his sentence.
Why it matters
This case is a significant legal development regarding sexual assault accountability and the judicial process in high-profile cases.
Journalist Tarun Tejpal, former editor of Tehelka magazine, on Thursday (August 20, 2026) appealed in the Supreme Court against the August 6, 2026, judgment of the Bombay High Court sentencing him to 10 years imprisonment in a 2013 rape case.
His appeal comes as the State of Goa, on Tuesday (August 18, 2026), moved the Supreme Court for enhancing the quantum of the sentence for Tejpal. The State said that the sentence was manifestly inadequate but clarified that it did not want to challenge or reopen the findings or conclusions on the merits recorded by the Bombay High Court in a judgment on August 6.
While Tejpal had pleaded for leniency in the High Court, claiming he was a “political victim” and the father of two daughters, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Goa, demanded the maximum punishment to send a strong message.
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