The state’s petition comes shortly after the Bombay High Court found Tejpal guilty and sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. The former editor has indicated that he will challenge both the conviction and the sentence before the Supreme Court.

The case dates back to 2013, when Tejpal was accused of sexually assaulting a junior female colleague inside a hotel lift in Goa during an event associated with Tehelka, the magazine he had founded.

A trial court had cleared Tejpal of the charges in 2021, citing shortcomings and inconsistencies in the prosecution's case. The decision was subsequently challenged, leading to proceedings before the Bombay High Court.

The High Court overturned the acquittal, calling the lower court's reasoning fundamentally flawed. It also criticised the approach taken towards the complainant's conduct, observing that victims of sexual assault should not be assessed against an unrealistic standard of how a supposedly "ideal" victim is expected to respond.

The High Court ultimately convicted Tejpal and awarded him a decade-long term of rigorous imprisonment.

Tejpal, who is 63, has maintained that he will take the matter to the Supreme Court and contest the High Court's findings.

The Supreme Court is therefore likely to consider challenges from both sides: Tejpal's appeal against his conviction and sentence, and the Goa government's plea seeking a longer prison term.