The Delhi High Court has suspended the life sentence awarded to expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the Unnao rape case, granting him conditional relief pending appeal while imposing stringent safeguards to protect the survivor and ensure his availability for further proceedings.
Sengar, convicted for rape and for orchestrating the murder of the survivor’s father, approached the High Court challenging his conviction and sentence. The case, which had earlier drawn nationwide attention, was tried in Delhi after the Apex Court transferred proceedings from Uttar Pradesh to ensure a fair and time-bound trial. While the prosecution opposed any relaxation, citing the gravity of the offences and the impact on the survivor, the defence pressed for suspension of sentence during the pendency of the appeal.
A Division Bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad and Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar held that the sentence could be suspended with rigorous conditions to balance the appellant’s right to pursue his appeal against the need to safeguard the survivor. Announcing the operative directions in open court, the Bench stated, “We are suspending the sentence,” while ordering Sengar to furnish a personal bond of Rs. 15 lakh with three sureties, remain confined to Delhi, stay at least five kilometres away from the survivor’s residence, surrender his passport, report weekly to the local police station, and strictly refrain from any form of intimidation.
The Court directed that the appeal be listed before the appropriate roster bench in January 2026, with a detailed order to follow.
Disclaimer: This news/ article includes information received via a syndicated news feed. The original rights remain with the respective publisher.
Picture Source :
