Delhi HC denies bail; Sengar's 10-year term in Unnao custodial death case stands
Delhi HC denies bail; Sengar's 10-year term in Unnao custodial death case stands
Delhi High Court refuses to suspend Kuldeep Sengar's 10-year sentence in the Unnao custodial death case tied to the rape survivor's father.
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to suspend the 10-year prison sentence handed to former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the Unnao custodial death case, linking to the father of the survivor who was a minor at the time of the 2017 incident. The decision means Sengar will continue to serve his term in connection with the custodial death, while he simultaneously faces a life sentence for the rape of a minor.
Sengar has been in custody since 2018 after being convicted by the Tis Hazari Court in the Unnao case. In parallel, he is serving a life term for the rape of a minor, a separate charge arising from the same incident-era FIRs registered in 2018. The court's ruling comes after ongoing arguments over whether to suspend the sentence on bail during pendency of related appeals. Earlier proceedings included arguments from the victim’s counsel asserting ongoing threats and harassment faced by the survivor and her family, while Sengar’s counsel contended that he has served a substantial portion of the sentence and disputed certain trial‑level findings.
The case has seen interim developments, including a stay order from the Supreme Court on a related order in December. The High Court’s decision today reinforces the gravity of the custodial death linked to the Unnao rape case and keeps the focus on accountability for the events of 2017 and the years that followed. As the legal process continues, observers say the outcome could influence considerations on similar bail petitions in high-profile cases and the treatment of custodial deaths in India’s judicial system.
For the survivor’s family, the court’s stance provides a measure of closure in the sense that the sentence remains intact, though questions about the path to final resolution through appeals remain. The broader narrative around this case continues to draw public attention to the complexities of policing, justice, and victims’ rights in long-running investigations.
