NEW DELHI,9 Feb 2026 : The Supreme Court on Monday refused to interfere with the Delhi High Court’s denial of bail to former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the case related to the custodial death of the father of Unnao rape victim.
A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and NV Anjaria declined to grant relief after noting that the matter involved offences of “moral turpitude”.
The Court nevertheless noted that the appeal by Sengar against his conviction is pending before the High Court and said that same can be taken up and heard on priority along with the victim’s appeal to enhance the sentence of 10 years imprisonment.
The Court nevertheless noted that the appeal by Sengar against his conviction is pending before the High Court and said that same can be taken up and heard on priority along with the victim’s appeal to enhance the sentence of 10 years imprisonment.
“We grant liberty to the appellant in that case (victim) to mention the same before High Court. Let Delhi High Court take up the appeal within one week and if High Court finds that the appeal can be decided along with the appeal by Sengar, then both can be heard and decided together. If that requires change in composition of the bench, the same can be done as well,” the apex court said.
The Unnao rape survivor’s father was arrested at Sengar’s behest and he died in custody on April 9, 2018 due to police brutality. Sengar and others were convicted over his death by a Delhi court in March 2020 and were sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
The Unnao rape survivor, a minor, was allegedly kidnapped and raped by Sengar between June 11 and June 20, 2017. She was then sold for ₹60,000. The survivor was thereafter continuously threatened and warned by the police officials against speaking out, as instructed by Sengar.
The case took a controversial turn after a lorry without a number plate rammed into the car in which the victim was travelling. The victim and her lawyer were critically injured while two of her aunts passed away.
The Unnao rape survivor’s father was arrested at Sengar’s behest and he died in custody on April 9, 2018 due to police brutality. Sengar and others were convicted over his death by a Delhi court in March 2020 and were sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
The Unnao rape survivor, a minor, was allegedly kidnapped and raped by Sengar between June 11 and June 20, 2017. She was then sold for ₹60,000. The survivor was thereafter continuously threatened and warned by the police officials against speaking out, as instructed by Sengar.
The case took a controversial turn after a lorry without a number plate rammed into the car in which the victim was travelling. The victim and her lawyer were critically injured while two of her aunts passed away.
During the hearing today, Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave, appearing for Sengar said that he has already spent more than 9 years in jail.
“9 years and 7 months completed out of a term of 10 years. The High Court says period of incarceration not important,” Dave said.
He also pointed out that some co-accused were released on bail after serving their sentences.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for CBI, pointed out that the victim’s appeal for enhancement of sentence is listed before the High Court on February 11.
Recently, the Delhi High Court had granted Sengar bail in the rape case. However, the order was stayed by the Supreme Court after the CBI filed an appeal.
Picture credit social media
