New Delhi:
The Supreme Court on Monday put a stay on the Delhi High Court’s order that had suspended the life sentence of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case. The apex court’s decision ensures that Sengar will remain behind bars while his appeal is examined further.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Augustine George Masih, took note of the seriousness of the case and observed that the court also carries a responsibility towards the survivor. Acting on a plea filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the bench issued notice to Sengar and directed him to respond within four weeks.
The court made it clear that the suspension of sentence granted earlier by the Delhi High Court cannot continue for now. It also noted that Sengar remains imprisoned in connection with another case — the custodial death of the rape survivor’s father — in which he is serving a separate sentence.
The bench also allowed the survivor to intervene in the proceedings, acknowledging her concerns and the impact of the earlier bail order. Ahead of the hearing, the survivor expressed faith in the Supreme Court and urged Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to ensure her safety and that of her family.
She alleged that influential individuals had attempted to influence the case and claimed that officials involved in the investigation had been compromised. According to her, the situation became increasingly unsafe after Sengar was granted bail, leaving her family in constant fear.
The case had once again sparked national outrage after the Delhi High Court suspended Sengar’s life sentence earlier this month. In its order, the High Court stated that Sengar’s status as an MLA did not automatically make him a “public servant” under the law and also held that provisions of the POCSO Act were not applicable in this case. The court further noted that Sengar had already served over seven years in prison, which it termed as more than the minimum sentence required.
Based on this reasoning, Sengar was released on conditional bail, including restrictions such as a ₹15 lakh personal bond and a directive not to enter Uttar Pradesh or come within a five-kilometre radius of the survivor.
The decision triggered widespread criticism and protests. Tensions escalated in Delhi after reports emerged of confrontations between security personnel and the survivor’s family. Disturbing visuals surfaced showing the survivor’s mother being forcibly removed from a bus during an alleged altercation with security staff.
Speaking to the media later, the survivor’s mother broke down, claiming her daughter was being held against her will and that the family feared for their lives. A CRPF official later stated that the survivor was being escorted for her safety, though no detailed clarification was issued.
With the Supreme Court now stepping in, the case has once again drawn national attention, reopening debates on justice, survivor protection, and accountability in high-profile criminal cases.
