Tarun Tejpal case: Supreme Court to hear Deepavali anticipatory bail plea on November 5

Founder of Tehelka magazine Tarun Tejpal. File | Photo credit: ANI

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (Nov 3, 2026) adjourned to November 5 the hearing of former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal’s plea challenging the Bombay High Court’s conviction and sentence to 10 years in prison in a 2013 sexual assault case. The court said it will also consider his interim bail plea so he can join his family for celebrations in Deepavali.

Also read | Supreme Court asks Goa to respond to Tarun Tejpal’s appeal against rape conviction

A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Prasanna B Varale adjourned the hearing after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Goa government, sought an adjournment.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Mr. Tejpal, initially opposed the adjournment. He then urged the court to grant interim bail to the journalist for Deepavali.

“If he wants to take time, he can take time. But let him perform during Diwali,” Mr. Sibal said.

Govt. challenge the lawsuit

Opposing the application, Mr. Mehta said the Goa government would contest the interim bail application.

Justice Sundresh then said the court can hear the parties on Mr. Tejpal’s application for interim bail. However, Mr. Mehta sought time to reply, after which the Bench agreed to take up the plea on November 5.

In its judgment on August 6, the High Court overturned the trial court’s May 2021 verdict acquitting Mr. Tejpal and found him guilty of two counts of aggravated rape. He sentenced him to 10 years in prison and imposed a fine. The case arose out of allegations that Mr. Tejpal sexually assaulted a younger female colleague twice in an elevator during the Tehelka THiNK festival in Goa in November 2013.

In overturning the acquittal, the High Court found serious error in the trial court’s assessment of the evidence, calling it “not only unreasonable but perverse”. It said the complainant’s testimony was viewed through preconceived notions, noting that Mr Tejpal, as her employer and mentor, exercised “dominance, control, trust and authority” over her.

Meanwhile, the Goa government has filed a separate appeal seeking to increase the 10-year sentence to life. She also challenged the direction allowing the sentences for the two offenses to run concurrently, saying the attacks took place on consecutive days and constituted separate offences.

Published – November 3, 2026 10:31 PM IST