Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Sep 14: Former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal surrendered before the Additional Sessions Court in Mapusa on Monday to begin serving his 10-year rigorous imprisonment sentence in the 2013 sexual assault case. He was subsequently sent to Central Jail at Colvale in North Goa.

The surrender came after the Supreme Court on August 25 directed Tejpal to surrender within three weeks to undergo the sentence imposed by the Bombay High Court. The apex court had rejected his plea seeking exemption from surrendering while agreeing to hear his appeal against the conviction and sentence.

The Bombay High Court's Goa bench had on August 6 convicted Tejpal in the 2013 case and sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment, overturning his earlier acquittal by the trial court.

Following his surrender on Monday, Tejpal was taken to Colvale Central Jail to commence his sentence. His appeal against the conviction is scheduled to be heard by the Supreme Court on September 22.

Tejpal's surrender marks the latest development in the long-running case arising from allegations of sexual assault during a Tehelka event in Goa in 2013.