The 2017 Unnao rape case survivor will move the Supreme Court after the Delhi high court granted bail term to expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar on December 23. Sengar was serving a life term in the case.
Sengar jail term suspension sparks fear
Reacting to the Court’s verdict, the survivor said that after the suspension of Sengar’s jail term created fear among her and her family members. She told news agency PTI that the security had already been withdrawn of her lawyer, family members and witnesses.
The victim also alleged that bail was granted due to the upcoming 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.
‘I wanted to kill myself’
“I heard the judgment, and I felt very bad. I wanted to kill myself then and there, but I stopped after thinking about my family. Injustice has been done to us. Elections are coming, and he has been released on bail so that his wife can contest the polls. If such a rape accused will come out, how will we be safe?” the victim said.
The Unnao rape case was transferred from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi following the Supreme Court’s direction in 2019.
Court suspended the sentence during the pendency of his appeal
Division bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar suspended the sentence during the pendency of his appeal. He was granted relief on the condition that he furnish a bail bond of Rs 15 lakh.
However, Sengar will remain in custody as he has not yet been granted bail in the victim’s father’s custodial death matter. An appeal and application for suspension of sentence is pending before the High Court of Delhi. He was awarded a 10-year sentence in that case.
Court sets strict bail conditions
While granting bail, the High Court has directed that Sengar will not go into the 5-kilometre area where the victim resides in Delhi. It is also directed that Sengar Shall remain in Delhi. He shall not contact the victim’s family members.
