In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India on Monday stepped in to suspend a Delhi High Court order that had granted bail to former BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar, the convict in the horrific 2017 Unnao rape case. The apex court's intervention, following a plea by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), has brought a wave of relief to the survivor and her family, who have been waging a long and arduous battle for justice.
Survivor's Resolve and Family's Relief
The survivor, speaking over the phone from Delhi, expressed her profound satisfaction with the Supreme Court's decision. "I am very happy with this decision. I have got justice from the Supreme Court," she stated, reaffirming her faith in the judicial system. She emphasized that her struggle began from day one and remains unwavering. "I will not rest until he is hanged. I will keep fighting. Only then will my family and I get justice," she declared, revealing that threats against her family persist even today.
Her family members echoed her sentiments. The survivor's sister called Sengar a "monster" who destroyed their entire family after committing the crime. She expressed satisfaction with the Supreme Court's order and insisted that his bail must remain rejected. The survivor's mother thanked the top court for the relief and demanded the death penalty for those responsible for her husband's death.
Political Reactions and Public Struggle
The Supreme Court's move has drawn strong reactions from political quarters and civil society. The CPI-ML hailed the order as a victory for people's struggle. Its state secretary, Sudhakar Yadav, stated that nationwide protests by the survivor and various women's, student, and youth organizations had been instrumental. He argued that given the heinous nature of the crime, Sengar deserved no leniency and must remain imprisoned for life to send the right societal message.
Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Congress launched a sharp attack on the BJP. The party shared a video allegedly showing protests in support of Sengar and termed them "shameless." Congress highlighted the immense suffering of the survivor, who lost her father in custody and other relatives in a suspicious accident, contrasting it with the alleged support for the convict by BJP supporters. The party accused the BJP of hypocrisy, claiming their public stance on women's safety (Beti Bachao) contradicted their actions.
The Other Side: Sengar's Family Appeals for Fair Trial
From the convict's side, his younger daughter, Ishita Sengar, posted an emotional appeal on social media platform X. She wrote that her family has been silently waiting for justice for eight years and continues to trust the legal institutions. Ishita lamented that her identity has been reduced to just "the daughter of a BJP MLA," subjecting her to hatred and abuse online. She clarified that her family seeks no sympathy, only an impartial examination of evidence and a fair judicial process free from pressure. Her elder sister, Aishwarya Sengar, reposted the message with the words, "We will fight, we will not lose."
The Case That Shook the Nation
Kuldeep Sengar, a former legislator from Unnao, was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape of a minor girl in 2017. The case triggered nationwide outrage and sparked intense debates about crimes against women and the accountability of powerful political figures. The survivor's fight for justice has been marked by immense personal tragedy, including the death of her father and a deadly car accident that killed her relatives.
The Supreme Court has issued a notice to Kuldeep Sengar, directing him to file his response to the CBI's plea. The legal battle continues, but for now, the survivor sees the top court's intervention as a crucial step in her relentless pursuit of final justice.
