The Supreme Court on Frida refused to suspend the ten-year jail sentence handed down by Bombay High Court to former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal in a 2013 rape case..A Bench of Justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale said that this is not a fit case for suspension of sentence."We do not find it to be a fit case to grant suspension of sentence. On a the prima facie view we are not inclined to grant suspension of sentence. Applications (for suspension of sentence) are dismissed," the Court said.Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Tejpal, asked the bench at what stage the Court is likely to consider suspension of sentence."We can’t give a stage now," the Court responded..The case against Tejpal involves allegations that he sexually assaulted a junior colleague twice in 2013, in an elevator of a high-end hotel in Goa. The Goa Police subsequently registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Tejpal for various offences, including rape. He was arrested in November 2013 and later released on bail in July 2014. The trial against Tejpal commenced in 2017 and lasted for 4 years. In May 2021, the trial court acquitted Tejpal.The High Court reversed the trial court acquittal on August 6 this year and convicted Tejpal for rape. He was sentenced to imprisonment for 10 years and a fine of over ₹10 lakh.Tejpal has challenged this ruling before the Supreme Court.Notably, on a request by Tejpal, the High Court had granted him four weeks to surrender before the jail authorities, although it rejected his plea to stay the conviction. Tejpal later surrendered and is currently in jail..This is a developing story..[Read Live Coverage]
