The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the operation of a Delhi High Court order that had suspended the life sentence of former Uttar Pradesh MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case involving a 17-year-old.
The apex court’s intervention ensures that Sengar will not be released from custody while his appeal remains pending.
A three-judge vacation bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice JK Maheshwari and Justice Augustine George Masih passed the interim order while hearing a petition filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which challenged the High Court’s December 23 decision granting suspension of sentence to the expelled Bharatiya Janata Party leader.
Timeline of the case
June 2017: Rape allegation
The case dates back to June 2017, when a minor girl from Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao accused then BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar of raping her at his residence. The survivor alleged that despite approaching the police, no action was taken for months.
April 2018: survivor’s self-immolation attempt
Citing police inaction and alleging that her father had been falsely implicated and arrested, the survivor attempted to set herself on fire outside the residence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on April 8, 2018. The incident drew national attention to the case. Her father later died in judicial custody, further intensifying public outrage.
July 2018: CBI takes over, chargesheets filed
Amid mounting public pressure, the case was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation. On July 11, 2018, the CBI filed its first chargesheet against Sengar, accusing him of rape. Two days later, a second chargesheet was filed against Sengar, his brother, three policemen and five others, accusing them of framing the survivor’s father in a false case.
July 2019: Crash, threats and Supreme Court intervention
On July 28, 2019, the survivor and her family met with a major setback when a truck rammed into their car, killing two of her relatives and seriously injuring her. It later emerged that the family had been receiving threats and had written to the Chief Justice of India seeking protection. On July 31, 2019, the Supreme Court took cognisance of the matter.
December 2019: Conviction and life sentence
On December 16, 2019, a Delhi court convicted Kuldeep Singh Sengar of rape. Four days later, on December 20, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. He was also held guilty in the case related to the custodial death of the survivor’s father.
December 2024: Delhi HC suspends sentence
On December 23, the Delhi High Court suspended Sengar’s life sentence while hearing his appeal, paving the way for his possible release from prison.
January 2025: Supreme Court stays HC order
The Supreme Court on Monday stayed a Delhi High Court order suspending ex-BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar's life sentence.
“We are informed that the convict has also been convicted and sentenced in another case and is still in custody. Considering such peculiar circumstances, we stay the operation of the impugned order. The respondent shall not be released,” the bench said.
The court also issued notice to Sengar and sought his response to the CBI’s plea within two weeks.
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