Apex court stays Delhi HC order suspending Kuldeep Sengar’s life sentence

The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Delhi High Courtrsquos HCrsquos order that had allowed the suspension of the life sentence of 2017 Unnao rape case convict Kuldeep Sengar and granted him bailA threejudge vacation bench of the apex court led by Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant was hearing a plea filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI challenging the Delhi HCrsquos decision news agency ANI reportedStaying the lower courtrsquos order the CJIled bench noted that Sengar a former Uttar Pradesh Member of Legislative Assembly MLA is already lodged in jail in connection with another case The court made it clear that Sengar will not be released from prisonThe bench comprising the CJI and Justices JK Maheshwari and AG Masih also issued notice to Sengar seeking his response to the CBIrsquos plea within two weeks ANI reportedldquoWe are informed that the convict is also convicted and sentenced under Section 304 murder of the IPC and that he is still in custody in that case Considering such peculiar circumstances in the case we stay the operation of the impugned order passed by the High Court The Respondent Sengar shall not be releasedrdquo the CJI observedHemant Kumar Maurya an advocate representing the victimrsquos side welcomed the orderUnnao rape case Victimrsquos lawyer welcomes SC stay on Sengarrsquos bailldquoI would like to thank the Supreme Court today The victim also wants to express her gratitude The Supreme Court has issued a strong order to the lower courts stating that the accused will not be released from jail in any case and the order granting relief has been stayed The opposition has been given time to file a counteraffidavit and until then he will not be released from jail under any circumstances This is the order of the Supreme Court and there is a stay on the High Courts orderrdquo said MauryaMeanwhile Congress leader and womenrsquos activist Mumtaz Patel has demanded capital punishment for SengarldquoWe are hopeful now that justice will be given to the Unnao victim Kuldeep Sengar should be given a death sentence A new law should come in which the rapists should be given death sentencerdquo said PatelOn December 23 the Delhi HC had suspended Sengarrsquos life sentence pending appeal and granted him bailSengar who has been expelled from the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP was convicted in December 2019 in the Unnao rape case and sentenced to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 25 lakh Following his bail from the HC in the rape case Sengar continued to remain in jail as he is serving a 10year sentence in another CBI case related to murderOn Sunday December 28 the survivor said she has faith that she will receive justice from the Supreme Court and appealed to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to ensure her safety so that she can pursue her legal battle without fearSpeaking at a protest organised by the All India Progressive Women Association AIPWA in the national capital the Unnao rape survivor alleged that Sengar had bribed officials including a CBI Investigating Officer and a Delhi HC judge and said her family had suffered severe consequences after his bailldquoI have faith that I will get justice in the Supreme Court Kuldeep Sengar has bribed Delhi HC judge and a CBI Investigating Officer My husbands job was snatched away and my children and witnesses are under threat Protection must be provided to those whom we name in front of the CBI I request CM Yogi Adityanath to protect me in a way that I am able to fight my battle fearlesslyrdquo she told ANIWith ANI inputs