The Supreme Court of India is scheduled to hear a crucial appeal filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday, December 29. The probe agency is challenging a Delhi High Court order that suspended the life sentence of former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar, convicted in the horrific Unnao rape case.
Survivor Alleges Collusion, CBI Files Appeal
A three-judge vacation bench, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, will take up the CBI's plea. This hearing comes amidst serious allegations leveled by the survivor against the investigating officer (IO) in the case. The survivor has claimed that the IO "colluded with the judge" to ensure a favorable outcome for Sengar.
Her accusations surfaced shortly after the Delhi High Court, on December 23, granted bail to Sengar and suspended his life term. The survivor and her mother met with CBI officials on Saturday to formally submit a complaint detailing these allegations.
"The complaint is that the investigating officer has wronged me. He colluded with the judge to ensure that the other party won, so that the rape victim would lose, her courage would be broken, and she would not be able to pursue the case further," the survivor was quoted as saying by ANI.
She expressed deep disappointment, adding, "Had the CBI stood with my lawyer, we wouldn't have had to see this day. We would have won, and they would have lost."
Legal Timeline and Conviction
Kuldeep Singh Sengar was convicted by a trial court in December 2019 for the rape of a minor girl in Unnao in 2017. The court sentenced him to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 25 lakh. Sengar challenged this conviction in the Delhi High Court in January 2020 and subsequently sought a suspension of his sentence in March 2022.
Throughout these legal proceedings, both the CBI and the survivor vehemently opposed any relief for Sengar. They consistently cited the seriousness of the offence and the potential risks to the safety of the complainant and witnesses.
High Court's Bail Order and Conditions
Despite this strong opposition, a bench of the Delhi High Court granted Sengar bail on December 23. The court imposed specific conditions for his release, though the detailed order has sparked controversy and led to the CBI's swift move to the Supreme Court.
The upcoming Supreme Court hearing is now a critical juncture in this long-running case, which has drawn national attention and become a symbol of the struggle for justice for survivors of sexual violence in India.
