The survivor in the horrific Unnao rape case has decided to take her legal battle to the highest court in the land. She will file an appeal in the Supreme Court of India against the recent decision by the Delhi High Court to suspend the jail sentence of her convicted rapist, former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar. The survivor has described the High Court's order as a blow that feels 'no less than death'.
A Legal Battle Reaches the Apex Court
This development comes after the Delhi High Court, on a date prior to December 24, 2025, ordered the suspension of Sengar's 10-year prison sentence in the rape case. The court granted him bail and suspended the sentence during the pendency of his appeal against the conviction. However, this legal relief does not mean Sengar will walk free immediately. He is currently serving another 10-year imprisonment sentence in a closely related case concerning the custodial death of the rape survivor's father. He has not been granted bail in that separate case, ensuring his continued incarceration.
The Gruesome Backstory of the Case
The Unnao rape case, which shook the nation's conscience, involves the then-teenage survivor who was raped by Kuldeep Sengar in 2017. The case took an even more tragic turn when the survivor's father was arrested soon after she tried to file a police report and died in judicial custody. The father's death was later ruled a custodial murder, leading to Sengar's conviction and sentencing in that case as well. The survivor and her family faced immense threats and intimidation, culminating in a deadly car crash in 2019 that was seen as an attempt on her life.
What Happens Next?
The survivor's decision to approach the Supreme Court underscores her relentless pursuit of justice. Her legal team is expected to argue against the suspension of Sengar's sentence, emphasizing the heinous nature of the crime, his influential position, and the potential threat to the survivor and witnesses. The Supreme Court's decision on whether to admit the appeal and stay the High Court's order will be the next critical juncture in this long-drawn legal saga. For now, Sengar remains behind bars due to his conviction in the custodial death case, a small consolation for the survivor who has endured unimaginable trauma.
The nation watches as this pivotal case, a stark test of the judicial system's response to crimes against women and the abuse of power, moves to its next chapter in the Supreme Court.
