New Delhi: The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, ordered journalist Tarun Tejpal to surrender within two weeks.
The SC will hear his appeal against the Bombay High Court order that sentenced the former Tehelka editor to 10 years in prison for rape, only after he surrenders.
Tejpal had moved the Apex Court, seeking an order that would exempt him from surrendering. He also moved an appeal against the Bombay High Court order through senior counsel Kapil Sibal.
The single judge bench of Justice Alok Aradhe, had however made it clear that his appeal can only be heard after the Court decides on his prayer for exemption from arrest.
Later in the day, Justice Aradhe, dismissed his petition for exemption from arrest and ordered him to surrender within two weeks.
The bench listed his appeal challenging his conviction and sentence for hearing on September 22, subject to filing of the surrender certificate, as reported by The New Indian Express.
The High Court had, on August 6, convicted Tejpal of rape and sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for 10 years, overturning his acquittal by the trial court five years ago.
Tejpal, was convicted of raping a junior colleague inside a hotel elevator in 2013 during an event organised by the magazine in Goa.
The 62-year-old journalist had earlier claimed that he was a political victim.