The Supreme Court has ordered Tarun Tejpal to turn himself in within three weeks.

First, the Supreme Court ordered former Tehelka Editor-in-Chief and rape offender Tarun Tejpal to turn himself up within three weeks on Tuesday. On August 6, the Bombay High Court’s Goa bench overturned Tejpal’s 2021 acquittal in the case, finding him guilty of raping a former coworker in 2013 and sentencing him to ten years in prison.

Claiming to be a victim, the 63-year-old former journalist has contested the High Court’s ruling. Additionally, the Goa government has petitioned the highest court to increase Tejpal’s sentence in this case.

The Goa government and Tarun Tejpal argued the matter in the highest court on Tuesday.Before contesting a conviction order, one must submit in accordance with Supreme  Court regulations. Rules state that a surrender certificate must be turned in. As an alternative, the appeal may be submitted with an application for exemption from surrender.

Tejpal’s appeal could only be heard if he filed a surrender certificate, according to Tushar Mehta, who represented the Goa government during the hearing. Mehta emphasised the seriousness of the situation by stating that he would have to ask the Supreme Court for an exemption from surrender.

In opposition, Tejpal’s attorney Kapil Sibal claimed that Tejpal’s conviction had already been stayed by the Bombay High Court. He stated that it would not be appropriate to ask him to submit once more. Sibal said he was ready to be taken into custody if the Supreme Court decided Tejpal shouldn’t be given relief.

The issue concerns claims made by a female journalist that on 7 and 8, 2013, during an official function in Panaji, Tejpal sexually assaulted her inside a hotel lift. On November 30, 2013, Tejpal was taken into custody on the accusations. He was accused of rape, sexual harassment, and unlawful imprisonment on September 29, 2017, among other offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). But he entered a not guilty plea.

The Goa Sessions Court cleared Tejpal of all charges in May 2021, ruling that the prosecution had not proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. In an attempt to overturn the trial court’s decision, the Goa government then appealed the acquittal to the Bombay High Court.