Overview
- The Supreme Court on Friday issued notices to the Goa government and to Tarun Tejpal on his appeal against the Bombay High Court conviction and on the state's separate plea to enhance his 10-year sentence.
- The Bombay High Court on August 6 reversed a 2021 acquittal, convicted Tejpal of aggravated rape and related offences, and sentenced him to 10 years after faulting the trial court for applying a 'perfect victim' standard.
- Tejpal surrendered to authorities on September 14 and is currently in Colvale Central Jail in Goa while his lawyers press for bail and appellate relief in the Supreme Court.
- The State of Goa has asked the Supreme Court to increase the 10-year term to life imprisonment, citing the high court's conviction under IPC Section 376(2)(f) where life is a statutory option.
- The matter is tentatively listed for October 15 and the apex court's decision on scheduling, bail and the appeals could settle both the conviction's fate and broader questions about how courts treat survivor testimony in sexual-assault cases.