Today on Monday, the Supreme Court paused the Delhi HC order that suspended the life sentence of expelled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Uttar Pradesh MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case. This decision effectively stops his release on bail.
A bench made up of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Augustine George Masih issued notice on petitions challenging the high court’s ruling and ordered that Sengar remain in custody.
Supreme Court Blocks Bail for Kuldeep Singh Sengar
While intervening, the court noted that “there are substantial questions of law” involved. It clarified that, given the specific facts of the case, the contested order would not take effect. The bench also directed that legal aid be provided to the survivor, recognizing her right to seek solutions on her own.
“We find that there are substantial questions of law. Normally, when a convict or undertrial released on bail after a trial court or high court order, this court should not pause that order without hearing from that person. However, the respondent convicted and sentenced in another case under Section 304, Part 2, IPC and is in custody in that matter. We pause the contested order due to the specific facts.
What is Delhi HC action?
The respondent not released from custody based on the contested order. The victim has the right to file a separate Special Leave Petition.
The Delhi high court had, on December 23, suspended Sengar’s sentence because he had already served more than seven years and five months of imprisonment while waiting for the outcome of his appeal against the December 2019 trial court conviction that sentenced him to life.
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