Supreme Court stays Unnao rape convict Kuldeep Sengar’s suspension of life sentence
The Supreme Court of India stayed the Delhi High Court’s December 23, 2025, order that had suspended Kuldeep Singh Sengar’s life sentence and granted him conditional bail in the 2017 Unnao rape case.
A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Augustine George Masih, issued notice on the CBI’s plea challenging the High Court decision. The bench questioned the High Court’s view that Sengar, as a former MLA, did not qualify as a public servant under relevant laws like POCSO, emphasizing that elected officials hold positions of trust. Sengar must file a counter-affidavit within four weeks, and he remains in custody, also serving time in a related case for the victim’s father’s death.
Kuldeep Sengar, a former BJP MLA from Uttar Pradesh, was convicted in 2019 for raping a minor in Unnao and sentenced to life imprisonment. The Delhi High Court suspended the sentence, arguing he had served over the minimum term if not classified as aggravated assault by a public servant. This sparked public outrage and protests.
The Unnao rape survivor vowed not to rest until Sengar faces the gallows, viewing the stay as a step toward justice. Her family expressed safety concerns if he were released.
