Unnao Rape Survivor's Mother Seeks Restoration Of CRPF Security; Supreme Court Asks Delhi Govt Report On Threat Perception

The Supreme Court on Monday (October 7) heard a miscellaneous application filed by the mother of the 2017 Unnao rape survivor, alleging grave threat to the life and liberty of herself and her immediate family members. She has sought recall of the Court's recent order allowing the withdrawal of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) security to her family.A Bench of Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice PB Varale directed the Government of NCT of Delhi to file an affidavit within two weeks stating whether there exists any threat perception to the life of the applicant and her family members, and whether they have approached the competent authority seeking security cover.The development follows the Court's March 25 order allowing an intervention application filed by the Union of India seeking modification of the Supreme Court's August 1, 2019 direction that had mandated CRPF protection to the survivor, her lawyer, mother, siblings, uncle, and the uncle's immediate family. The Union sought withdrawal of security from all except the survivor herself.During today's hearing, the Bench was informed by Adv Mehmood Pracha that an application for security was pending before the Delhi Legal Services Authority.Justice Mithal observed that the State of Uttar Pradesh has no role in providing security cover at this stage and inquired to which authority the application was made. When the applicant's counsel could not produce relevant documents, Justice Varale observed:“Unless you show that, it will be very difficult to pass any orders.”Counsel for NCT Delhi submitted that the applicant had not approached any local authority. The Court then reminded NCT Delhi of its obligation to file an affidavit regarding the threat perception to the applicant and her family.The Court passed an order allowing NCT Delhi to file an affidavit: "Learned counsel for the petitioner is permitted to file additional documents. Learned Counsel for the NCT Delhi press for time and is allowed two weeks time to affidavit clearly stating if the petitioner has approached the Government for appropriate security cover or if there is any threat perception to her life."In 2019, taking cognizance of a letter addressed to the then Chief Justice of India expressing apprehension of threats, the Supreme Court had transferred all related cases from the CBI Court in Lucknow to the District Court in Delhi. In July 2019, a truck rammed into the car in which the rape survivor was travelling near Rae Bareilly, killing her two aunts and leaving her and her lawyer critically injured. In December 2019, BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar and others were convicted by the Trial Court. The apex court had also directed the CBI to periodically assess the threat perception to the survivor and her family every three months.According to the present miscellaneous application, the Uttar Pradesh Government last filed an affidavit on threat perception in 2022, after which no further reports were submitted either by the State or by the CBI.It has now been alleged that soon after the withdrawal of security, the applicant's residence was attacked and ransacked during the night, with valuables stolen. The plea claims that the convict continues to wield significant influence and poses a serious danger to the safety of the survivor's family.Case Details: IN RE ALARMING RISE IN THE NUMBER OF REPORTED CHILD RAPE INCIDENTS Vs|MA 1415/2025 in SMW(Crl.) No. 1/2019MA filed by Vidushi Bajpai, advocate for the victim Click Here To Read/Download Order

Unnao Rape Survivor's Mother Seeks Restoration Of CRPF Security; Supreme Court Asks Delhi Govt Report On Threat Perception

Gursimran Kaur Bakshi

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