The Unnao rape survivor, on Dec 29, welcomed the Supreme Court of India order staying the suspension of former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Kuldeep Singh Sengar’s life sentence, saying the decision had restored her faith in the justice system after days of fear and uncertainty.
The apex court’s intervention came after it admitted a plea filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation, which challenged a controversial order of the Delhi High Court suspending Sengar’s life imprisonment and granting him bail in the 2017 rape case.
The Supreme Court stayed the high court’s order and issued notice to Sengar, directing him to file his response.
“I am very happy with this decision. I have got justice from the Supreme Court. I have been raising my voice for justice from the very beginning,” the survivor told the Press Trust of India over the phone from Delhi.
She added that, while she respected all courts, the apex court’s intervention had given her reassurance at a critical moment. “I have faith in the justice system and hope it will continue to protect me,” she said.
Sengar, a powerful legislator from Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao district at the time of the crime, was convicted in 2019 under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for raping a 17-year-old girl and sentenced to life imprisonment.
The case triggered nationwide outrage, becoming a symbol of alleged political interference, institutional apathy and the risks faced by survivors who challenge influential figures.
The Delhi High Court had last week suspended Sengar’s sentence while hearing his appeal, holding that his status as an elected MLA did not automatically place him within the category of “public servant” under the aggravated assault provisions of the POCSO Act.
On that reasoning, the court said the offence did not qualify as “aggravated” and noted that Sengar had already served more than the minimum sentence prescribed for non-aggravated assault.
The order led to widespread protests and condemnation from activists, opposition leaders and the survivor herself.
The survivor and her mother staged protests in Delhi, expressing fear for their safety if Sengar were released. The case’s grim history added to the anxiety.
After the survivor accused Sengar in 2017, she alleged repeated threats and harassment. In 2018, she attempted self-immolation outside the Uttar Pradesh chief minister’s residence, citing police inaction.
Months later, she survived a car crash that killed two of her aunts and critically injured her lawyer. Her father, arrested on arms charges after allegedly being assaulted by Sengar’s associates, later died in custody.
In 2020, Sengar was convicted of culpable homicide in connection with the father’s death and sentenced to 10 years in prison, reported NDTV.
Hearing the CBI’s appeal, a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant noted that, while courts generally avoid staying bail orders without hearing the accused, the present case involved “peculiar facts and circumstances.”
The bench observed that Sengar remains in custody in the culpable homicide case and that the survivor’s safety and confidence in the justice system were significant considerations.
The court also allowed the survivor to intervene in the proceedings, recognising her right to be heard. Her lawyer described the stay as “temporary relief” but said the legal battle would continue to ensure that the life sentence is ultimately upheld.
With the Supreme Court’s order, Sengar will remain in jail for now, and the high court’s decision will not take effect until the apex court examines the matter in detail.
For the survivor, the stay has brought a pause to a turbulent week. “I only want to live without fear and see justice done,” she said.
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29 Dec 2025 12:06
