New Delhi – The Delhi High Court on Tuesday suspended the life imprisonment sentence of former Uttar Pradesh legislator Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the Unnao rape case and granted him bail while his appeal against conviction remains pending. The order was passed by a division bench after considering the duration of incarceration already undergone by the convict and the fact that his appeal is yet to be finally heard.
Sengar was convicted in 2019 for the rape of a minor girl in 2017 and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Since his conviction, he has remained in custody and has completed more than seven years in prison. The court observed that the appeal is unlikely to be taken up for final disposal in the near future, which weighed in favour of granting interim relief.
While allowing bail, the High Court imposed strict conditions to ensure the safety of the survivor and prevent any misuse of liberty. Sengar has been directed to furnish a personal bond of ₹15 lakh along with three sureties of the same amount. He has also been restricted from leaving the National Capital Region and must surrender his passport to the trial court.
The court further ordered that Sengar must report regularly to the concerned police station and must not attempt to contact, influence, or intimidate the survivor or her family in any manner. He has also been barred from entering areas close to the survivor’s residence. The bench made it clear that any violation of these conditions would lead to immediate cancellation of bail.
The High Court clarified that the suspension of sentence applies only to the rape conviction under appeal. Sengar is also serving a separate sentence in another criminal case related to the custodial death of the survivor’s father, which will continue to operate as per law.
The decision has triggered concern among the survivor and her family, who have expressed dissatisfaction with the court’s order. They have raised apprehensions regarding personal safety following the grant of bail and have urged authorities to ensure continued protection.
The Unnao rape case had drawn nationwide attention due to the gravity of the allegations, the age of the victim, and the political influence of the accused at the time. It became a landmark case highlighting issues of victim protection, accountability, and delays in the criminal justice system. The appeal proceedings are expected to continue in the coming months.
