Unnao rape case: Victim’s lawyer says SC order only limited relief not victory to survivor
New Delhi: Mehmood Pracha, counsel for the Unnao rape survivor, on Monday said the Supreme Court’s decision to stay the Delhi High Court order suspending the life sentence of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar has given the victim only temporary relief and does not address deeper concerns in the case.
Reacting to the interim order passed by the Supreme Court of India, Pracha said the development should not be seen as a victory. “I can assure the victim that we have got a small relief. This should not be called a victory, but it gives us a little time to breathe,” he said.
Pracha criticised the Central Bureau of Investigation for what he described as a limited and inadequate presentation of arguments before the apex court. He alleged that the agency did not consult the survivor’s legal team and failed to place the strongest grounds supporting the victim. “There is substantial evidence in favour of the survivor, but the CBI did not raise the most important aspects of the case,” he said.
He also pointed out that the Supreme Court, while staying the High Court’s order, did not go into the core merits of the matter. “The court has not examined the main issues. What was discussed was only the tip of the iceberg,” Pracha said, adding that the survivor’s legal team was not made a party to the proceedings.
ALSO READ: Unnao rape case: People trying to take political advantage, says SC on allegations against HC judges
Expressing anguish over the survivor’s continued vulnerability, Pracha questioned whether the stay order truly translated into meaningful relief. He said the survivor remains under heavy security and lives in constant fear. “Do you expect me to be happy when the survivor is under CRPF protection and I cannot even speak to her freely about the order?” he asked.
The Supreme Court, while hearing the CBI’s plea against the Delhi High Court’s December 23 order, stayed the suspension of Sengar’s life sentence and directed that he should not be released from custody. The bench noted that Sengar is already serving a sentence in another criminal case and sought his response within two weeks.
Sengar was convicted in December 2019 for the rape of a minor in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao district and sentenced to life imprisonment. Although the High Court had granted him bail in the rape case, he continues to remain in jail in connection with a separate case linked to the death of the survivor’s father.
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.
Some glitches can happen at any large event: Tharoor praises AI Summit
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Thursday praised the AI Impact Summit, saying the first couple of days had gone "extremely well" and "some glitches" can happen at any "large event".
He said what has been impressive is the attendance of presidents, prime ministers, and world leaders who have come with a strong message of wanting to see a newly integrated world in artificial intelligence development.
While noting that the first couple of days went “extremely well” at the summit, Tharoor said there have been “some glitches” but such issues can happen at big events.
His remarks come a day after former Congress president Rahul Gandhi dubbed the ongoing AI Summit in Delhi a "disorganised PR spectacle" and alleged that Chinese products were being showcased there.
ALSO READ: Chhatrasal Stadium murder case: Delhi HC seeks police's stand on wrestler Sushil Kumar's bail plea
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and other senior party leaders have also criticised the event, saying alleged mismanagement has resulted in "embarrassment" for the country.
Responding to a reporter's question after the launch event of his new book on Narayana Guru, Tharoor said, "Though I have not had the chance to go to the summit, I am speaking there tomorrow. From what I understand, these first couple of days have gone extremely well. There have been some glitches, some organisational things, these things happen in a large event."
"But by and large what has been impressive is the attendance... a number of presidents, prime ministers, and world leaders are here, and they've come with a strong message of wanting to see a newly integrated world in AI development, where the impact upon society would be the principle," Tharoor said.
"Preoccupation in India has clearly led the drive in this area," he added.
Asked about French President Emanuel Macron's remarks about procurement of Rafale jets by India and the Make in India component of the deal, Tharoor said as far as the French Rafale is concerned, parts of it are being manufactured in India.
That is a very important aspect of the deal because it is part of strengthening defence, but also increasing our self-reliance in the defence sector, he said.
"Defence is important for India not because we want to go to war, but because we don't want others to think that we are so weak that they can be tempted to go to war. It is a defensive defence literally, and that is what we are working for and I support the government on that,” he said.
On the upcoming film Kerala Story 2, Tharoor said the first film, Kerala Story, was a “hate-mongering film”.
“They were saying that thousands of people were converted, which is not true. I think there were around 30 such cases over a number of years. Ours is a very big country. If a case occurs here and there, it doesn't mean you should turn it into a big story and use it as propaganda,” Tharoor said.
“In our childhood, films like Amar Akbar Antony used to get entertainment tax exemptions,” he added.
