The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has decided to approach the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court’s order that suspended the life sentence of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the Unnao rape case and granted him bail while his appeal is pending.
Sengar was convicted in December 2019 for the kidnapping and rape of a minor girl in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh in 2017. A trial court had awarded him life imprisonment in the rape case. He was also sentenced separately to 10 years in prison in connection with the custodial death of the victim’s father, who died after being arrested on what the CBI said were false charges.
On December 23, the Delhi High Court suspended Sengar’s life sentence in the rape case, citing the long period he had already spent in jail and the fact that his appeal was still to be heard. The court granted him bail with strict conditions. These included a personal bond of ₹15 lakh, restrictions on entering areas near the survivor’s residence, and a clear direction not to contact, threaten, or influence the victim or her family in any manner.
The CBI strongly opposed the suspension of the sentence and has now decided to file a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court. The agency has said it will seek the cancellation of the bail and restoration of the life sentence, arguing that the seriousness of the crime and the safety of the survivor must be given priority.
The High Court order has caused widespread outrage. The survivor described the bail as a serious threat to her family’s safety and said it felt like a “death sentence” for them. She has also announced plans to move the Supreme Court herself to challenge the suspension of Sengar’s sentence. Protests were held in Delhi, with the survivor and her mother demanding justice and stronger protection.
Despite the bail in the rape case, Sengar is expected to remain in prison for now because of his conviction in the custodial death case. The Supreme Court’s decision will be crucial, as it will determine whether the suspension of the life sentence stands and how the balance between the rights of the accused and the safety of victims is addressed in such serious crimes.
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