The Supreme Court on Tuesday (August 25, 2026) directed journalist Tarun Tejpal to surrender in two weeks in a 2013 rape case in which he has been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.

A Single-Judge Bench of Justice Alok Aradhe said the appeal would be heard once the certificate of his surrender is filed in the Supreme Court on or before September 22, 2026

The State of Goa, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, argued that Tejpal should surrender before his appeal is listed for hearing in the Supreme Court.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, for Tejpal, said his client’s appeal ought to be listed first.

On August 24, Justice Aradhe, while adjourning the case to Tuesday (August 25, 2026), had concluded that “until and unless, suitable orders are passed on the application seeking exemption from surrender, the appeal cannot be listed before the court. Therefore, the prayer made to list the matter before the court, without considering the application seeking exemption from surrender, cannot be accepted”.

Mr. Mehta had opposed the plea while citing the Supreme Court Rules, 2013.

Mr. Mehta had argued that the Rules were mandatory in nature that until and unless the appellant surrendered, Tejpal’s appeal should not be listed before the Supreme Court.

The top law officer however submitted daily that the Supreme Court had the power to even do away with the requirement of surrender.

On August 20, Tejpal had moved the Supreme Court challenging the August 6 order of the Bombay High Court against his conviction in a 2013 sexual assault case. Earlier, the Goa government had appealed the top court seeking an enhanced sentence for the former editor of Tehelka, contending that the case warranted imprisonment for life.

The Bombay High Court had convicted Tejpal of rape and sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for 10 years while overturning his acquittal by the trial court five years ago. Tejpal was convicted of raping a junior colleague inside a hotel elevator in 2013. The 62-year-old journalist had claimed he was a political victim.