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New Delhi: As the Supreme Court prepares to hear the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) plea challenging the suspension of the life sentence of former Uttar Pradesh BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, the survivor of the 2017 Unnao rape case has voiced grave concerns over the safety of her children and family.
Speaking to news agency ANI on Sunday, the survivor said she had faith in the Supreme Court to deliver justice but expressed anguish over what she described as prolonged institutional failure. “I have faith in the Supreme Court that it will give me justice. I am raising the voice of every woman. Had the CBI acted earlier, I would have got justice and his bail would have been rejected,” she said, alleging that Sengar raped her.
Recalling the aftermath of the case, the survivor said her family had faced relentless intimidation. “My father was killed. My family members were killed. Security for my family and witnesses was removed. My husband lost his job. My children are unsafe at home,” she added.
A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and comprising Justices J K Maheshwari and Augustine George Masih, has agreed to take up the matter on December 29. The hearing follows widespread outrage over the decision to suspend Sengar’s life sentence and grant him bail during the pendency of his appeal.
The CBI has approached the apex court against the Delhi High Court’s order, arguing that the suspension of sentence in a life imprisonment case should be treated as an exception. The agency has warned that Sengar’s release poses a serious threat to the survivor’s life, citing his influence and past conduct.
Earlier, the Delhi High Court held that the aggravated offence provisions under Section 5(c) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Section 376(2) of the Indian Penal Code were not applicable in Sengar’s case, reasoning that he could not be considered a “public servant” under those sections. The CBI has challenged this interpretation, contending that it weakens the protective framework of the POCSO Act and undermines safeguards for survivors.
Meanwhile, protests erupted at Jantar Mantar in Delhi against the bail order. Demonstrators clashed with members of a group supporting Sengar, leading to a brief scuffle. Protesters asserted that the former MLA is a convicted rapist and accused his supporters of trivialising sexual violence.
The case dates back to 2017, when a teenage girl accused Sengar of raping her at his residence. The matter drew national attention after her father died in police custody in 2018. In 2019, a special CBI court convicted Sengar and sentenced him to life imprisonment, marking a significant moment in the long legal battle for justice.
