Protests outside Delhi High Court against bail to Kuldeep Sengar in Unnao rape case
New Delhi: Protests broke out outside the Delhi High Court on Friday after the court granted conditional bail to expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the Unnao rape case. Demonstrators gathered near the court premises, raising slogans and demanding that the bail order be withdrawn.
The protest followed the High Court’s decision to suspend Sengar’s life sentence, a move that has drawn strong reactions from the survivor, her family and women’s rights activists. Speaking to Hindustan Times, the survivor said she was distressed by the order and felt unsafe after learning that Sengar had been granted bail.
The survivor’s mother told ANI that the family would approach the Supreme Court to challenge the decision, stating that they had lost faith in the High Court. She said the family was determined to continue its legal fight and expressed anguish over bail being granted to a person convicted of rape and linked to other serious criminal cases.
Police personnel were deployed around the court complex and were seen asking protesters to disperse, warning of legal action if the gathering continued. Visuals shared by news agencies showed security officials urging demonstrators to clear the area.
Women’s rights activist Yogita Bhayana, who participated in the protest, said the decision had caused widespread anger and pain among women. She said protesters had assembled at the court to voice their opposition and demand justice for the survivor.
Several protesters questioned the basis on which bail was granted, noting that Sengar had been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. They said the decision sent a troubling message about women’s safety and accountability in cases of sexual violence.
Sengar was convicted in December 2019 for the rape of a 17-year-old girl in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao district in 2017 and was sentenced to life imprisonment. The Delhi High Court, while suspending his sentence earlier this week, observed that he had already served more than the maximum punishment prescribed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The survivor also referred to past incidents, including a 2019 car accident in which two of her relatives and her lawyer were killed, alleging that Sengar had earlier used associates to intimidate and target her family.
Now 24 and living in Delhi, the survivor has been provided court-mandated security following the bail order and is accompanied by Central Reserve Police Force personnel. Her mother said, however, that security cover earlier provided to her and her three children had been withdrawn earlier this year, adding to the family’s sense of insecurity.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
MP HC sets up judicial commission to probe water contamination in Indore
Indore (PTI): The Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday set up a commission of inquiry comprising a former HC judge to probe the issue of water contamination in city's Bhagirathpura, saying the matter requires probe by an independent, credible authority and "urgent judicial scrutiny".
It also directed the commission to submit an interim report after four weeks from the date of commencement of proceedings.
A division bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi constituted the commission while hearing several public interest litigations (PILs) filed simultaneously regarding the deaths of several people in Bhagirathpura due to the consumption of contaminated water.
The HC reserved the order after hearing all the parties during the day, and released it late at night.
The state government on Tuesday told the HC that the deaths of 16 people in Indore's Bhagirathpura area was possibly linked to a month-long outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The government presented an audit report of 23 deaths from the current gastroenteritis epidemic in Bhagirathpura before the bench, suggesting that 16 of these fatalities may have been linked to the outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The report, prepared by a committee of five experts from the city's Government Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, stated that the deaths of four people in Bhagirathpura were unrelated to the outbreak, while no conclusion could be reached regarding the cause of death of three other people in the area.
During the hearing, the high court sought to know from the state government the scientific basis behind its report.
The division bench also expressed surprise at the state government's use of the term "verbal autopsy" in relation to the report, sarcastically stating that it had heard the term for the first time.
The HC expressed concern over the Bhagirathpura case, stating that the situation was "alarming," and noted that cases of people falling ill due to contaminated drinking water have also been reported in Mhow, near Indore.
In its order, the HC said the serious issue concerning contamination of the drinking water supply in Bhagirathpura area allegedly resulted in widespread health hazards to residents, including children and elderly persons.
According to the petitioners and media reports, death toll is about 30 till today, but the report depicts only 16 without any basis or record, it said.
It is averred that sewage mixing, leakage in the pipeline, and failure of civic authorities to maintain potable water standards have led to the outbreak of water-borne diseases. Photographs, medical reports, and complaints submitted to the authorities prima facie indicate a matter requiring urgent judicial scrutiny, the HC said.
"Considering the gravity of the allegation and affecting the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and the need for an independent fact-finding exercise, the Court is of the opinion that the matter requires investigation by an independent, credible authority," it said.
"Accordingly, we appoint Justice Sushil Kumar Gupta, former judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, a one-man commission of inquiry into the issues relating to water contamination in Bhagirathpura, Indore, and its impact on other areas of the city," the HC added.
As per the order, the commission shall inquire into and submit a report on the cause of contamination -- whether the drinking water supplied to Bhagirathpura was contaminated; and the source and nature of contamination (sewage ingress, industrial discharge, pipeline damage etc).
The panel will also probe the number of actual deaths of affected residents on account of contaminated water; find out the nature of disease reported and adequacy of medical response and preventive measures; suggest immediate steps required to ensure safe drinking water as well as long-term infrastructural and monitoring reforms.
It will also identify and fix responsibility upon the officers and officials found prima facie responsible for the Bhagirathpura water contamination incident, and suggest guidelines for compensation to affected residents, particularly vulnerable sections.
The commission shall have powers of a civil court for the purpose of summoning officials and witnesses; calling up records from the government department, hospitals, laboratories and civic bodies; ordering water quality testing through accredited laboratories; conducting spot inspections.
All state authorities involving district administration, Indore Municipal Corporation, public health engineering department and Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board shall extend full co-operation and provide records as sought by the commission, it said.
The state government shall provide office space, staff, and logistical support to the commission, it said.
During the hearing in the day, the state government also presented a status report to the court in this matter.
According to reports, a total of 454 patients were admitted to local hospitals during the vomiting and diarrhea outbreak, of whom 441 have been discharged after treatment, and 11 are currently hospitalised.
According to officials, due to a leak in the municipal drinking water pipeline in Bhagirathpura, sewage from a toilet was also mixed in the water.
