Did CBI Challenge the Delhi HC's Decision on Kuldeep Singh Sengar's Sentence?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The CBI has filed a Special Leave Petition against the Delhi HC's ruling.
- Kuldeep Singh Sengar's life sentence was suspended under controversial circumstances.
- Protests have erupted in response to the suspension, highlighting public concern for justice.
- The Unnao rape case continues to be a focal point for discussions on women's rights in India.
- The Supreme Court's oversight is crucial for ensuring fair trials in high-profile cases.
New Delhi, Dec 26 (NationPress) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has approached the Supreme Court in response to the Delhi High Court's ruling that temporarily suspended the life sentence and granted bail to the expelled Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the controversial 2017 Unnao rape case.
The Special Leave Petition (SLP), submitted under Article 136 of the Constitution, contests the December 23 ruling issued by the Delhi High Court which approved Sengar's request to suspend his sentence while his appeal is being heard.
It has been reported that both the CBI and the family of the victim have expressed their intention to challenge the Delhi High Court's decision in the apex court.
During proceedings at the Delhi High Court, the CBI firmly opposed Sengar's request, underscoring the grave nature of the crime and the associated risks.
In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, a Division Bench comprising Justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar of the Delhi High Court suspended Sengar's life sentence and granted him conditional bail, subject to stringent conditions during the appeal process.
However, despite being granted bail in the rape case, Sengar is not expected to be released immediately as he is currently serving another sentence related to the death of the survivor's father.
The Unnao rape case has sparked nationwide outrage.
In December 2019, the trial court found Sengar guilty of kidnapping and raping a minor girl, sentencing him to life imprisonment and imposing a fine of Rs 25 lakh.
Previously, the Supreme Court had mandated the transfer of all cases related to this incident from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi and directed that the trial should be conducted on a daily basis.
Meanwhile, family members of the Unnao rape survivor, along with women's rights activists, protested outside the Delhi High Court on Friday against the suspension of Kuldeep Sengar's life sentence.
Chanting slogans and displaying placards, the demonstrators expressed that the bail ruling had "undermined public confidence" and conveyed a detrimental message concerning crimes against women.