Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Sep 26: The Supreme Court on Thursday refused interim relief to former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal and declined his request for an early hearing of his appeal against his conviction and 10-year rigorous imprisonment in the 2013 sexual assault case.

A Bench also issued notices to the respective respondents, including Tejpal and the Goa government, on separate pleas pending before it.

Goa Advocate General Devidas Pangam said Tejpal’s counsel had sought interim relief and an early hearing of his appeal, but the Supreme Court declined both requests. The Court granted the Goa government time to file its response to Tejpal’s appeal challenging the conviction and sentence imposed by the High Court of Bombay at Goa.

Tejpal surrendered before the trial court on September 14 after the Supreme Court last month rejected his plea seeking deferment of his surrender and directed him to surrender within two weeks to begin serving his sentence.

The High Court, in its August 6 judgment, reversed Tejpal’s acquittal and sentenced him to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment. While refusing to stay his conviction, the High Court had granted him four weeks to surrender.

Separately, the Goa government has filed a Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court seeking enhancement of Tejpal’s sentence from 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment to life imprisonment.