In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India on Monday stepped in to put on hold a Delhi High Court order that had suspended the life sentence of expelled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the horrific 2017 Unnao rape case. The interim order brings the former Uttar Pradesh MLA's hope for immediate relief to a halt.
Supreme Court's Vacation Bench Intervenes
A special three-judge vacation bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant, issued the stay while hearing a petition filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The federal investigation agency had challenged the Delhi High Court's decision to suspend Sengar's life imprisonment. The apex court noted during the proceedings that Sengar continues to remain incarcerated in connection with a separate case.
The CBI probe into the Unnao rape was itself conducted under the direct supervision of the Supreme Court, highlighting the seriousness with which the judiciary has treated this matter. The stay order means the relief granted by the High Court is now effectively frozen until the Supreme Court hears the CBI's appeal in detail.
Political Reaction from Uttar Pradesh Congress
Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee president Ajay Rai swiftly welcomed the Supreme Court's decision. Rai stated that the apex court's intervention has correctly put the High Court's relief to Sengar on hold. He attributed the earlier suspension of the life term to what he described as "shortcomings in legal advocacy" during the initial hearings.
Rai's comments underscore the political sensitivity of the case, which involved a powerful former MLA and a minor victim from Unnao, leading to nationwide outrage. The case had also implicated several others and involved charges of murder and intimidation.
Case Background and Conviction
Kuldeep Singh Sengar, a former BJP MLA from Bangarmau in Uttar Pradesh, was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2019 for the rape of a minor girl in Unnao in 2017. The trial was moved to Delhi on the Supreme Court's orders following concerns over witness safety and a fair trial.
The case came to light after the survivor attempted to immolate herself outside the Chief Minister's residence, alleging inaction by authorities. It subsequently led to a massive CBI investigation and a fast-track trial. The Delhi High Court's recent order suspending his sentence had cited his already prolonged custody and other factors, a decision now paused by the top court.
The Supreme Court's latest order ensures that Sengar will not walk free based on the High Court's suspension. The legal battle now moves to the Supreme Court for a final determination on the CBI's challenge, keeping the focus firmly on judicial accountability and justice for the survivor.
