CBI moves Supreme Court against bail to Sengar in Unnao rape case; protests continue

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday filed a special leave petition before the Supreme Court after studying the recent Delhi High Court order granting conditional bail to former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the Unnao rape case, officials said.

The order dated December 23 suspended the sentence pending disposal of the appeal and granted bail to Sengar with certain conditions. “However, he will remain in jail as he is also convicted and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment in another CBI case for murder,” said a source.

Sengar was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment with a fine of ₹25 lakh in December 2019. He filed an appeal against the conviction in January 2020 and a petition for suspension of sentence in March 2022 before the Delhi High Court. “This petition was vehemently opposed by the CBI and the victim through their counsels,” said the source.

Meanwhile, protests against the Delhi High Court’s order in the case continued on Friday. Several women sat outside the High Court holding placards that sought justice for the survivor.

One placard carried by a protester outside the high court read, “Unnao ki beti nyay mein deri nehi, nyay chahti hai” (Unnao’s daughter doesn’t want delay in justice, she wants justice) while another read read, “Unnao sister I’m sorry”.

While protestors sat peacefully outside the court complex intermittently raising slogans, the Delhi Police announced over a speaker that they should vacate the premises. “We request the protestors to vacate the premises or there will be legal action against those who have gathered,” said an officer.

Meanwhile, Mehmood Pracha, advocate representing the Unnao rape survivor, said irrespective of what the CBI does, they will be moving the Supreme Court. “We are also making preparations to go to the Supreme Court with a strong case, but the CBI is the main party,” he said. The lawyer further added that they have decided to lodge a first information report with the CBI against officials who have helped Sengar.

“The CBI should expose their conspiracy and take action against them. A similar thing happened with the victim of the Hathras incident. After this judgment, no female child of the country will be safe,” said Mr. Pracha, while urging people to hit the roads and protest for the protection of women in India.

On Thursday, an appeal challenging the suspension of prison sentence of the expelled BJP leader by the Delhi High Court was filed by two advocates.