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The Delhi High Court on Tuesday, December 23, suspended the life sentence of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar pending the disposal of his appeal against his conviction by a trial court in the 2017 Unnao rape case.
The court has tentatively scheduled the appeal for January 16, 2026.
Despite concerns over the safety of the victim and her family, the court said Sengar had already served more than seven years and five months of his sentence.
The court said that while the potential threat to the victim’s safety is not sufficient ground to refuse to suspend the sentence, the victim will continue to receive Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) protection, according to the judgment document.
The bench said, “The argument of keeping the appellant (Sengar) in custody because of apprehension of danger to the victim/survivor is, in the opinion of this court, no cogent argument for denying the benefit of Section 389 CrPC to the appellant.”
A bench of Justices Subramaniam Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar also ordered that the Deputy Commissioner of Police of the present residential area of the victim ensure her safety.
Sengar had challenged the December 2019 trial court verdict in which she was convicted of rape and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Despite the suspension of his life sentence in the rape case, Sengar will remain in jail as he is also serving a 10-year sentence in the custodial death of the victim’s father.
The High Court directed Sengar to deposit a personal bond of ₹15 lakh with three sureties of equal amount, subject to several conditions. These also include that Sengar should not enter within a radius of five kilometers of the victim’s residence and should not threaten her or her mother.
The court further directed that Sengar remain in the national capital and be available to serve the remaining sentence, if necessary. He will have to appear at the local police station every Monday at 10 am and submit his passport to the trial court.
The victim told PTI that her biggest concern now is the safety of her children.
She reportedly said, “In a serious crime where my father was murdered and I was raped, the accused has been granted bail after spending a few years in jail. This raises questions as to what kind of justice this is.”