Unnao rape case: People trying to take political advantage, says SC on allegations against HC judges
New Delhi (PTI): After expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar's lawyers said that allegations were made against the Delhi High Court judges who suspended his life sentence in the Unnao rape case, the Supreme Court on Monday observed that some people are trying to take "political advantage".
The high court had suspended the jail term of Sengar, who was serving life imprisonment in the Unnao rape case, saying he had already served seven years and five months in prison.
"We understand it. We are not sitting in ivory towers. We understand that people are trying to take political advantage and there are people who are trying to take advantage," Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, who was heading a three-judge vacation bench, said.
Senior advocate N Hariharan, appearing for Sengar, pointed out that some people were making allegations against the high court judges who dealt with the case.
He said such persons should refrain from making statements or allegations against the judges.
"They are doing that on national television," Hariharan said.
Another lawyer, who also appeared for Sengar, said photographs of the high court judges were also being circulated.
Hariharan said there is a video circulating levelling allegations against the judges and this was a cause of concern.
The bench observed that such people are simply forgetting that Sengar was convicted by the judiciary only.
"Very frankly, these judges are one of the finest we have," the bench, also comprising Justices J K Maheshwari and Augustine George Masih, said during the hearing.
Later, asked about the issue of allegations being made against the judges, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the CBI in the matter, unequivocally and categorically said both the high court judges are "brilliant judges with unimpeachable integrity" and any attempt to malign them must be strongly condemned.
They are among the finest judges of the country, the top law officer said.
He said there are always some elements that attempt to browbeat honest judges and such devious forces must not be encouraged.
The apex court stayed the Delhi High Court's order suspending the life sentence of Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case, and said he shall not be released from custody.
The apex court also issued notice to Sengar seeking his response within four weeks on the CBI's plea challenging the high court order.
Sengar's sentence was suspended by the high court till the pendency of his appeal challenging his conviction and sentence in the rape case. He has challenged a December 2019 trial court verdict in the case.
He will, however, remain in jail since he is also serving 10 years' imprisonment in the custodial death case of the victim's father and has not been granted bail in that case.
The rape case and other connected cases were transferred to Delhi from a trial court in Uttar Pradesh on the directions of the Supreme Court on August 1, 2019.
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People wrongly accuse me of appeasement; I am secular in true sense: Mamata
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday rejected allegations of indulging in appeasement, asserting that she is "secular in the true sense" and participates in programmes across faiths without discrimination.
She was speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of ‘Durga Angan’, a cultural complex dedicated to Goddess Durga, at New Town in Kolkata.
“People accuse me of indulging in appeasement, but it is not correct. I am secular in the true sense,” she said, adding that she attends programmes of all religions.
The Trinamool Congress chief did not identify the accuser, but the opposition BJP often charges her with appeasing the Muslims.
“You do not say anything when I visit a gurdwara, but start criticising me when I attend an Eid programme,” Banerjee said.
Banerjee also flagged concerns over the ongoing SIR process, alleging harassment of people and loss of lives.
“People are being harassed unnecessarily. Over 50 lives have been lost within a month during the SIR process,” she claimed.
“We will continue fighting to protect the democratic rights of people and are ready to lay down our lives for that,” Banerjee said.
