Overview
- The Bombay High Court overturned Tarun Tejpal’s 2021 acquittal on August 6 and convicted him of aggravated rape and related offences, sentencing him to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment.
- On Monday the Supreme Court heard competing arguments and reserved judgment on Tejpal’s application for exemption from surrender, and listed the matter for consideration on August 25.
- Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that, under the Supreme Court Rules and past precedent, Tejpal must either file a certificate proving he has surrendered or seek a separate exemption before his appeal can be admitted.
- Tejpal’s lawyer Kapil Sibal argued the surrender rule should not apply because the Bombay High Court had granted Tejpal four weeks to surrender, and asked the court to list the appeal for hearing without immediate custody.
- The Goa government has separately asked the Supreme Court to enhance the 10‑year sentence to life, and the top court’s decision on the surrender question could shape how convictions by high courts are processed in future appeals.