In a development that has sparked nationwide outrage, the Delhi High Court's decision to suspend the life sentence of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case has been met with fierce opposition from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and profound despair from the survivor. The CBI announced on Wednesday, December 25, 2025, that it will file a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court against the bail order.
CBI's Swift Move and Survivor's Despair
The CBI spokesperson confirmed the agency's intent to legally challenge the High Court's order "at the earliest." This decision came on a day when the survivor, grappling with the verdict, sought political support. She met with Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi, requesting top legal assistance and relocation to a Congress-ruled state due to acute safety fears for herself and her family.
Speaking to The Indian Express, the survivor revealed the depth of her trauma. "I was in the court during the announcement, and it was a setback. I wanted to commit suicide then and there, but did not because of my children and my family who have stood by me," she said. She argued that the development "will only make things worse for victims who decide to take on the mighty."
Protest at India Gate and Political Reactions
Hours after the verdict on Tuesday, the survivor and her mother staged a protest at India Gate, only to be removed by security personnel. She expressed bitter irony at this action, stating, "Rape is allowed, giving bail to a rape accused is allowed, but our protest is not." She made a poignant comparison, noting that while the Supreme Court orders the removal of stray dogs, it is the rape accused, "the real predators, who should be removed from the streets so women can live in peace."
Rahul Gandhi took to social media, reposting a video of their removal and calling the bail "extremely disappointing and shameful." He questioned, "Bail for rapists and treating survivors like criminals – what kind of justice is this?"
Legal Nuances and Family's Ongoing Fear
The High Court, while suspending Sengar's sentence pending his appeal, ruled that his former status as an MLA did not classify him as a 'public servant' under the Indian Penal Code. Sengar was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2019 for raping a minor under the IPC and POCSO Act. He also faces a separate 10-year sentence for the custodial death of the survivor's father, with an appeal pending in the Delhi High Court. He will not be released until a similar suspension order is passed in that case.
The survivor's sister voiced the family's terror to the media, stating that Sengar had already killed their uncle and father. "He has been released but the threat hovers over us... Who knows he will erase our entire family once he is out. If he is being let out, put us in prison, at least we will be safe there," she pleaded.
Despite the overwhelming challenges, the survivor vowed to continue her fight. She appealed to women in power, including the President of India and the Delhi Chief Minister, for support and expressed a desire to meet the Home Minister and the Prime Minister. "I can’t go back to where I started; this fight can’t end like this," she asserted, embodying a resolve that stands in stark contrast to the despair triggered by the court's order.
