The Supreme Court has rejected Tarun Tejpal's plea for suspension of his prison sentence and upheld the conviction handed down by the Bombay High Court on August 6.
On Friday, the Supreme Court bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale dismissed Tarun Tejpal’s petition seeking suspension of his ten-year imprisonment term for his conviction under various sections of the Indian Penal Code related to rape and sexual harassment. The court stated that 'we do not find it to be a fit case to grant suspension of sentence' and 'on prima facie view we are not inclined to grant suspension of sentence'.
Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Tejpal, inquired about the potential timeline for considering the suspension of his sentence. However, the court responded that it could not provide a specific date at this stage.
In August 2021, the Bombay High Court convicted Tarun Tejpal, overturning an acquittal decision made by a sessions court in May 2021. The high court sentenced him to ten years in prison and fined him over Rs 10 lakh for his offenses under provisions of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to rape by a person holding trust or authority, rape by a person who is in a position of control or dominance over a woman, sexual harassment, and criminal force against a woman with an intent to disrobe her.
On August 20, Tejpal moved the Supreme Court challenging the High Court’s decision. On August 25, the Supreme Court directed Tejpal to surrender within two weeks, saying his appeal would be listed after he submitted a certificate confirming his surrender by September 22. He surrendered before the Additional Sessions Court at Mapusa on September 14 and was sent to Central Jail at Colvale in North Goa.
Tejpal was accused of raping a junior colleague in an elevator in 2013. He had been arrested in November 2013 and was in jail for seven months before being granted bail by the Supreme Court in July 2014.
Source:
Scroll.in
