The BRICS TimesMajor Setback for Kuldeep Sengar: SC Stays Delhi HC Order Suspending Life Sentence and Granting Conditional Bail
SC Intervention in Sengar’s Conviction
On Monday (December 29, 2025), the Supreme Court put a stop to the Delhi High Court’s ruling in the Unnao rape case. The High Court had earlier suspended Kuldeep Singh Sengar’s life imprisonment sentence. It had also granted him conditional bail. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) challenged this Delhi High Court decision in the Supreme Court.
The vacation bench heard the petition. Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice J.K. Maheshwari, and Justice Augustin George Masih were on the bench. The High Court’s order had suspended Sengar’s punishment. It also provided him with conditional bail. However, Sengar remains in jail. This is due to a separate 10-year sentence. That sentence is for the custodial death of the Unnao rape victim’s father. The victim and her family are very upset with the High Court’s decision. They are continuously protesting outside the Delhi High Court.
Arguments Presented by CBI
SG Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, stated a very horrific rape of a minor occurred. He argued the High Court did not consider IPC Section 376 and POCSO Section 5. Justice J.K. Maheshwari then clarified that Section 376 had been considered. SG Mehta countered that the High Court ignored many key aspects. He stressed that this is a case involving a minor victim.
SG Tushar Mehta pointed out Sengar was convicted in two separate cases. He also mentioned the victim’s age at the time of the incident. She was less than 16 years old, specifically 15 years and 10 months. The appeal against this conviction is currently pending. He asserted the conviction reason was clear. A public servant committed this rape. The CBI proved this with facts and evidence.
Case Background and Previous Judgements
This incident dates back to 2017. Kuldeep Singh Sengar was a serving MLA from Uttar Pradesh then. A minor girl from the Unnao district accused him of rape. In 2019, the Delhi Trial Court found Sengar guilty of rape. It sentenced him to life imprisonment. Sengar was also convicted in cases related to the custodial death of the victim’s father. He was also convicted for influencing witnesses. On December 23, the Delhi High Court suspended his sentence until his appeal was heard. It cited the period of sentence already served (seven years and five months). It also mentioned certain legal grounds while granting him conditional bail.
Akshay Didwaniya
