The Supreme Court is contemplating staying the Delhi High Court’s decision to suspend the life sentence and grant bail to expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case. A three-judge Bench, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, expressed inclination towards this move. Sengar remains in custody for another case despite the bail.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has challenged the Delhi High Court’s December 23 order that suspended Sengar’s sentence while his appeal is pending. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, emphasized the victim’s age below 16 at the time of the rape. The High Court’s interpretation of a legislator’s status for sentencing was also contested.
Sengar, serving a 10-year sentence for his involvement in the survivor’s father’s death, cannot be released from jail. Mehta urged the court to consider the impact on the victim. The CBI and the survivor’s family plan to contest the High Court’s decision in the Supreme Court, following protests by activists and the survivor’s family.
In 2019, Sengar was convicted of kidnapping and raping a minor, receiving a life sentence and a fine. The Supreme Court had transferred all related cases to Delhi for a speedy trial. The Delhi High Court, in a recent order, granted Sengar conditional bail during his appeal, leading to public outcry and concerns about justice for women.
