New Delhi— The survivor of the 2017 Unnao rape case on Wednesday described the Delhi High Court’s decision to suspend the life sentence of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar as “kaal” or death for her family, and said she would approach the Supreme Court to challenge the order.
The High Court on Tuesday suspended Sengar’s jail term and granted him bail pending the disposal of his appeal against the conviction handed down by a trial court in December 2019. Sengar is serving a life sentence for the rape of the survivor, who was a minor at the time of the crime.
While granting bail, the court directed that Sengar must not enter a five-kilometre radius of the survivor’s residence and must not threaten or contact the survivor or her mother. The court also stated that any violation of these conditions would lead to the automatic cancellation of bail.
However, Sengar will continue to remain in jail as he is also serving a 10-year sentence in connection with the custodial death of the survivor’s father, in which he has not been granted bail.
Reacting strongly to the order, the survivor told PTI from Delhi that security provided to her family members, lawyers and witnesses had already been withdrawn, and the court’s decision had intensified her fear. She said that granting bail in such cases raised serious concerns about the safety of women in the country.
“For us, this decision is nothing less than ‘kaal’ (death). If convicts in such cases get bail, how will the daughters of this country feel safe?” she said, adding that justice often favours those with money and influence.
The survivor said she and her mother were on their way to stage a protest near Mandi House in Delhi against the court’s decision. She confirmed that she would file an appeal in the Supreme Court seeking the cancellation of Sengar’s bail.
The Unnao rape case, along with related matters, was transferred from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi in August 2019 on the directions of the Supreme Court, citing concerns over fair investigation and trial.
