Supreme Court seeks police response on Tejpal rape conviction appeal

A Supreme Court bench comprising Justices M M Sundresh and P B Varale on Friday directed Goa Police to file their response to Tejpal's appeal against the Bombay High Court order that convicted him of rape. The bench simultaneously issued notice to Tejpal on the Goa government's separate petition seeking an enhancement of his sentence.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Tejpal, highlighted that the case involved a reversal of acquittal by the high court and requested that his bail plea be considered. Sibal noted that Tejpal had already surrendered to serve his sentence and that the High Court had suspended the sentence for four weeks.

"This is a case of reversal, there is a right of appeal, I have surrendered. The High Court itself has suspended the sentence for four weeks," Sibal submitted before the bench. The court indicated it would announce a specific date for hearing the matter.

The development comes after the Supreme Court in late August directed Tejpal to surrender within three weeks to begin serving his 10-year sentence, dismissing his plea for exemption from physical surrender. Tejpal subsequently complied with the order and surrendered before the trial court.