On August 25, 2026 the Supreme Court directed former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal to surrender to jail authorities within two weeks and to file a surrender certificate. The court refused his application for exemption from surrender and indicated it will list his appeal only after he complies with the surrender direction.

The Supreme Court action follows a decision of the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court on August 6, 2026, which overturned a 2021 acquittal, convicted Tarun Tejpal for sexual assault in an incident dated 2013 and sentenced him to 10 years' imprisonment. The High Court had given him a period to surrender (reports mention two or four weeks in different contexts). Tarun Tejpal has appealed the Bombay High Court decision to the Supreme Court and sought exemption from surrender pending that appeal.

The Supreme Court directed surrender within two weeks and required filing of a surrender certificate; it indicated the appeal will be listed for hearing only after the surrender certificate is filed. Reports state the matter was posted for hearing on September 22, 2026 subject to the filing of the surrender certificate.