New Delhi [India], December 29 (ANI): CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to stay the Delhi High Court order that had allowed the suspension of former BJP MLA and Unnao rape convict Kuldeep Singh Sengar’s life sentence.
“We welcome this judgment given by the Supreme Court,” Karat said.
The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Delhi High Court’s December 23 order that had suspended Sengar’s life sentence in the 2017 Unnao rape case and granted him bail. A three-judge vacation bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant heard a plea filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation challenging the High Court’s decision.
Staying the High Court order, the apex court noted that Sengar remains in custody in another criminal case. “We are informed that the convict is also convicted and sentenced under Section 304 of the IPC and that he is still in custody in that case. Considering such peculiar circumstances, we stay the operation of the impugned order passed by the High Court. The respondent shall not be released,” the Chief Justice observed.
The bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices J.K. Maheshwari and A.G. Masih, also issued notice to Sengar and sought his response to the CBI plea within two weeks.
Hemant Kumar Maurya, counsel for the survivor, thanked the Supreme Court for its order and said the victim had expressed her gratitude. He said the apex court had made it clear that Sengar would not be released from jail under any circumstances while the stay remains in force.
Sengar, an expelled BJP leader, was convicted in December 2019 in the Unnao rape case and sentenced to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 25 lakh. Although the Delhi High Court had granted him bail in the rape case pending appeal, he continues to remain in jail as he is serving a 10-year sentence in another CBI case related to murder.
On Sunday, the survivor said she has faith in the Supreme Court and appealed to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to ensure her safety so she can continue her legal battle without fear.
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