CBI Moves Supreme Court Against Delhi HC Order Suspending Sentence Of Kuldeep Sengar In Unnao Rape Case

The Central Bureau of Investigation has approached the Supreme Court challenging the order of the Delhi High Court granting bail to former Uttar Pradesh MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the Unnao rape case.

The Special Leave Petition has been filed before the Supreme Court assailing the High Court's decision to suspend Sengar's sentence and release him on bail during the pendency of his appeal against conviction.

The High Court, while granting bail earlier this week, had held that aggravated offence provisions under Section 5(c) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and Section 376(2) of the Indian Penal Code were not attracted in Sengar's case, as he could not be categorised as a “public servant” within the meaning of those provisions. On that basis, it proceeded to suspend the sentence.

Sengar was convicted in 2019 by a special CBI court for raping a minor girl in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh and was sentenced to life imprisonment. The case had drawn nationwide attention, with the survivor and her family alleging sustained harassment and intimidation by the former legislator and his associates. Several related cases, including those involving attacks on the survivor's family members, were also investigated by the CBI on the directions of the apex court.

Sengar is also serving a 10 year sentence imposed on him in 2020 in a separate case related to the culpable homicide of the survivor's father.