Ex-Tehelka Editor-In-Chief Tarun Tejpal Surrenders Before Goa Court In 2013 Rape Case

Former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal surrendered before the Mapusa court on Monday, after the Bombay High Court sentenced him to 10 years in prison for raping a junior colleague inside a hotel elevator in Goa back in 2013.

The case dates back to November 2013, when Tejpal was accused of sexually assaulting a junior colleague during an event organised by Tehelka magazine. In May 2021, a Goa sessions court acquitted him of all charges, ruling that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The Goa government challenged that acquittal before the Bombay High Court. On August 6, 2026, the High Court overturned the acquittal, convicted Tejpal, and sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine.

Tejpal then approached the Supreme Court through advocate Aditya Samaddar, challenging the High Court's verdict. The Supreme Court directed him to surrender within two weeks — a direction he has now complied with, meaning he must begin serving his sentence, subject to any further orders in his ongoing appeal.

Adding another twist to the case, the Goa government has separately challenged the High Court's sentence as well, arguing that 10 years is inadequate given the seriousness of the offence — and is seeking life imprisonment instead.