India, Aug. 26 -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed journalist Tarun Tejpal to surrender within three weeks to undergo his 10-year prison sentence in a 2013 rape case in which he was convicted by the Bombay High Court.

A bench of Justice Alok Aradhe dismissed Tejpal's plea seeking exemption from surrendering.

"The application seeking exemption from surrendering is rejected. However, the appellant (Tejpal) is granted three weeks' time to surrender and file a surrender certificate before this court," the bench said in its order.

The apex court listed his appeal challenging his conviction and sentence for hearing on September 22, subject to the filing of the surrender certificate.

"In case the surrender certificate is filed on or bef...