Supreme Court Orders 62‑Year‑Old Journalist to Surrender Within Two Weeks

The apex court on August 25 directed veteran journalist Tarun Tejpal to present a surrender certificate within fourteen days, linking the submission to the pending hearing of his appeal against a ten‑year rigorous imprisonment sentence.

The court had earlier dismissed his plea for immediate relief, stating that the appeal could be entertained only after his surrender. Tejpal complied by appearing before the Additional Sessions Court in Mapusa, where his lawyers reiterated that the Bombay High Court had already granted a four‑week period for surrender.

Justice Alok Aradhye’s bench noted the Supreme Court’s order and asked Tejpal’s counsel how much additional time was needed. Sibal requested the full two‑week period, which the bench approved, setting September 22 as the deadline for filing the surrender certificate.