The political landscape witnessed a fresh wave of controversy after the Delhi High Court's decision to suspend the life sentence of former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the high-profile 2017 Unnao rape case. The move has ignited strong reactions, with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti launching a scathing attack on the ruling dispensation.
Political Firestorm Erupts Over Court Order
In a sharp critique posted on social media platform X, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti condemned the court's decision, linking it directly to the current political climate. Mufti asserted that the suspension sends a "chilling message" to the survivor of the brutal crime. She further alleged that showing leniency in cases of horrific rape has become normalized under the BJP-led government.
"Sadly, this is nothing new as leniency in brutal rape cases has been normalised under BJP Raj," Mufti stated in her post. She also claimed that the right to protest against such judicial decisions has been stifled, with demonstrators facing forceful removal and criminal charges.
Details of the Court's Conditional Order
The Delhi High Court passed the order suspending Sengar's life sentence on Tuesday, while his appeal against the conviction is still pending. Sengar had challenged the December 2019 verdict of a trial court which found him guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
The court did not grant the suspension unconditionally. It imposed several strict terms, including:
- Furnishing a personal bond of Rs 15 lakh along with three sureties of the same amount.
- A prohibition from coming within a five-kilometre radius of the survivor's residence in Delhi.
- A strict warning against threatening or intimidating the survivor or her mother.
The bench made it clear that any breach of these conditions would result in the immediate cancellation of the bail and Sengar's return to jail.
Sengar Remains in Jail, Supreme Court Plea Filed
Despite this development, Kuldeep Singh Sengar will not walk out of prison immediately. He is concurrently serving a 10-year sentence in a separate but related case concerning the custodial death of the rape survivor's father. He has not been granted bail in that matter, ensuring his continued incarceration.
In a significant follow-up, a plea has been filed in the Supreme Court of India challenging the Delhi High Court's order to suspend Sengar's sentence. This sets the stage for a potential legal battle in the nation's highest court over this sensitive case that has captured national attention for years.
The Unnao rape case, which unfolded in 2017, involved serious allegations against the then-influential BJP MLA. The subsequent legal proceedings and the tragic death of the survivor's father in custody added layers of complexity and public outrage to the matter, making it a symbol in discussions about justice, power, and accountability.
