Delhi High Court Denies Sentence Suspension for Kuldeep Sengar
The Delhi High Court has firmly rejected a plea to suspend the sentence of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar. Justice Ravinder Dudeja delivered this decision on Monday, January 20, 2026. Sengar faces a 10-year rigorous imprisonment term for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. This case involves the death of the Unnao rape survivor's father.
Court Cites Gravity of Crime and Criminal Antecedents
Justice Dudeja provided clear reasoning for the refusal. He stated that the presumption of innocence no longer applies after conviction. The court found no exceptional or compelling circumstances to justify suspending the sentence at this stage.
Key factors weighed against suspension include:
- The serious nature of the crime.
- Threat perception related to the case.
- Sengar's criminal antecedents, including a prior life imprisonment conviction for raping a minor.
- The findings of the Trial Court.
Justice Dudeja emphasized that Sengar has served approximately 7.5 years of his 10-year sentence. However, he noted this period is relevant but not determinative. It alone cannot warrant suspension when balanced against the gravity of the offense.
Background and Previous Court Actions
This decision follows a recent development in a related case. A few weeks earlier, a division bench of the Delhi High Court had suspended Sengar's life imprisonment sentence for the rape of the Unnao survivor. However, the Supreme Court subsequently stayed that order.
Justice Dudeja also referenced a prior ruling from June 2024. At that time, the Delhi High Court refused to suspend Sengar's sentence pending the final appeal decision. The judge noted no change in circumstances since then to justify a second review for suspension.
Pending Appeals and Legal Proceedings
Kuldeep Sengar currently has two appeals pending before the Delhi High Court:
- An appeal filed in 2019 against his conviction and life sentence for the rape of a minor in December 2019.
- Another appeal against his March 2020 conviction and 10-year sentence for culpable homicide not amounting to murder in the death of the minor's father in judicial custody.
After the Delhi High Court suspended the life sentence, the Central Bureau of Investigation appealed to the Supreme Court. The top court then stayed the Delhi High Court's order, adding another layer to this complex legal battle.
The Delhi High Court's latest ruling underscores the judiciary's focus on the severity of the crimes involved. It highlights the court's reluctance to grant relief in cases with serious criminal antecedents and grave offenses.
