Delhi High Court Rejects Bail for Former BJP MLA in Custodial Death Case
The Delhi High Court has refused to grant bail to former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar. This decision relates to the custodial death of the father of the Unnao minor rape survivor. Justice Ravinder Dudeja announced the order on Monday, dismissing Sengar's request for suspension of his sentence.
Arguments Presented in Court
Advocate Mehmood Pracha represented the rape survivor during the hearing. He strongly opposed any relief for Sengar. Pracha argued that releasing Sengar would endanger the victim and her family. He highlighted ongoing harassment and defamation faced by the survivor on social media platforms. The gravity of the offense and its severe consequences formed the basis of his opposition to bail.
Senior advocate Manish Vasisth and advocate Kanhaiya Singhal defended Sengar. They pointed out that Sengar has already spent nearly nine years in custody for this case. Only about eleven months of his ten-year sentence remain. The defense claimed Sengar was not present at the location on April 3, 2018, when the assault on the victim's father occurred.
They also questioned the trial court's reliance on call detail records involving Sengar's secretary, Santosh Mishra. Mishra allegedly spoke to Sengar on the phone that day but was never examined as a witness. The defense raised concerns about contradictions in witness statements, casting doubt on their credibility.
Sengar's counsel reminded the court about a previous interim suspension of sentence. This temporary release was granted for his daughter's marriage. During that period, Sengar did not misuse his liberty according to his lawyers.
Case Background and Previous Developments
Kuldeep Singh Sengar has been in custody since April 13, 2018. He is currently serving a ten-year jail term for the custodial death case. Additionally, he received a life sentence in the minor rape case. His recent bail plea specifically addressed the custodial death conviction.
Earlier, on December 23, 2025, Sengar obtained bail in the minor rape case. However, the Supreme Court of India stayed this order on December 29, 2025.
The cases originated from FIRs registered in 2018 at Makhi police station in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh. The District and Sessions Judge (West) at Tis Hazari Courts in Delhi conducted the trials.
According to prosecution details, the minor survivor was lured with a job offer on June 4, 2017. She was allegedly raped at Sengar's residence. On April 3, 2018, the survivor's family traveled to Unnao for a court hearing. Her father was reportedly assaulted in public during this visit.
Authorities arrested him the following day on arms possession charges. He died in police custody on April 9, 2018. Medical reports indicated multiple injuries as the cause of death.
