Unnao rape case: Delhi High Court suspends Kuldeep Sengar’s sentence, grants bail
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday suspended the jail term of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who is serving a life sentence in the Unnao rape case, and granted him bail pending the hearing of his appeal.
A bench comprising Justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar ordered Sengar’s release on bail subject to strict conditions. The court directed him to furnish a personal bond of Rs 15 lakh along with three sureties of the same amount.
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The High Court also imposed restrictions on Sengar, barring him from entering within a five-kilometre radius of the survivor’s residence. He has further been directed not to threaten or contact the survivor or her mother. The court warned that any violation of these conditions would result in the cancellation of bail.
Sengar’s sentence has been suspended until the disposal of his appeal challenging the December 2019 trial court verdict that convicted him of raping a minor in 2017. He is currently serving life imprisonment in the case.
The rape case, along with related matters, was transferred from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi in August 2019 on the directions of the Supreme Court.
Sengar has also challenged his conviction in the custodial death case of the survivor’s father, in which he was sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment. His appeal in that case is pending, and he has sought suspension of the sentence on the ground that he has already spent a substantial period in custody.
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Court rejects Uttar Pradesh BJP’s bid to drop Akhlaq lynching case, orders day-to-day trial
Lucknow: A court in Surajpur refused the Uttar Pradesh government’s request to withdraw prosecution in the 2015 lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq and directed that the case be taken up for expedited trial with daily hearings.
Additional District Judge Saurabh Dwivedi categorised the matter as “most important” and ordered the prosecution to begin recording evidence without delay. To ensure complete protection of all evidence, the court also directed on Tuesday, that letters be sent to the Police Commissioner of Gautam Buddha Nagar and the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Greater Noida. The next hearing has been scheduled for January 6.
Following rumours that he had slaughtered a cow and stored beef at his residence, Mohammad Akhlaq, 50, was lynched by a mob on September 28, 2015, in Bisada village of Dadri in Gautam Buddha Nagar district. Akhlaq and his son Danish were dragged out of their home and assaulted after an announcement was allegedly made from a temple loudspeaker. Akhlaq later died at a hospital in Noida, while Danish survived after sustaining critical head injuries. Akhlaq’s killing had sparked nationwide protests under the banner “Not In My Name."
All 18 accused villagers were released on bail by September 2017, after the BJP-led government under Chief Minister Adityanath assumed office. One of the accused is the son of a local BJP leader. While the accused returned to the village, Akhlaq’s family moved away citing fear and hostility.
The accused were charged under multiple provisions of the Indian Penal Code regarding murder, attempt to murder, voluntarily causing hurt, intentional insult to provoke breach of peace, and criminal intimidation.
On October 15, the Uttar Pradesh government moved an application seeking withdrawal of the case. The petition cited alleged inconsistencies in statements by Akhlaq’s family, the absence of recovered firearms or sharp weapons, and the lack of prior enmity between the accused and the victim.
The court’s order comes amid a legal challenge by Akhlaq’s wife before the Allahabad High Court. She has contested the state government’s decision to withdraw the prosecution and the related application filed by the public prosecutor. Her appeal also challenged a series of administrative orders issued between August and September 2025 that resulted in the withdrawal plea, according to Maktoob Media.
The petition argues that under Section 321 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, any withdrawal from prosecution requires the court’s consent and must be assessed independently to ensure it does not result in a miscarriage of justice.
Reacting to the court’s decision, CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat said the order reaffirmed the primacy of judicial scrutiny and described it as a significant step towards justice.
