Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Nov 6: The Supreme Court has refused to grant interim bail to former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal during the Diwali period and declined to suspend his 10-year prison sentence in a 2013 rape case.

A bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh and Prasanna B Varale passed the order while hearing Tejpal's application seeking suspension of his sentence. After hearing arguments from lawyers representing Tejpal and the Goa government, the bench said it was not inclined to grant him relief.

Tejpal had approached the apex court seeking interim relief during Diwali while challenging his conviction and sentence imposed by the Bombay High Court.

The case relates to an incident in 2013, when Tejpal was accused of sexually assaulting a junior female colleague inside a hotel elevator in Goa during an event organised by Tehelka magazine.

On August 6, the Bombay High Court overturned the trial court's acquittal of Tejpal, convicted him of rape and sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. The trial court had acquitted the former editor five years earlier.

The 62-year-old journalist approached the Supreme Court on August 20, challenging the High Court's verdict. Tejpal has maintained that he was a victim of political vendetta and sought relief against his conviction and sentence.