New Delhi, Nov. 6 -- The Supreme Court on Friday refused to suspend the 10-year sentence handed down to journalist Tarun Tejpal, convicted of raping a junior colleague inside a hotel elevator in 2013.
A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and Prasanna B Varale observed that it was not inclined to suspend the sentence given by the Bombay High Court. "We don't find it to be a fit case to grant suspension of sentence," the bench said while hearing Tejpal's application seeking suspension of sentence.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Tejpal, referred to the evidence and other materials in the case and argued that the "whole story is false". Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the Goa government, opposed Tejpal's plea and said it is a case for enhancing the sentence.
On August 6, the Bombay High Court convicted Tejpal of rape and sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for 10 years, overturning the acquittal of the former editor of Tehelka magazine by the trial court five years ago.
He was convicted of raping the junior colleague during an event organised by the magazine in Goa. The 62-year-old journalist has claimed that he was a victim of political vendetta.
On August 25, the top court had directed Tejpal to surrender within three weeks to undergo his 10-year prison sentence and had dismissed his application seeking exemption from surrendering. Subsequently, Tejpal surrendered before the trial court.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.