New Delhi, Dec 29 (NationPress) In a heartfelt open letter shared on the social media platform X, Dr. Ishita Sengar, daughter of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar — who was convicted in the 2017 Unnao rape case — conveyed her profound distress, anxiety, and diminishing faith in the justice system.

The letter, directed to the "Hon’ble Authorities of the Republic of India," was released shortly after the Supreme Court put a hold on a Delhi High Court ruling that had temporarily lifted her father's life sentence and permitted him conditional bail.

Sengar, who was expelled from the BJP, received a life sentence in December 2019 for the heinous act of raping a minor who sought employment from him in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh. The case ignited nationwide outrage in 2018, amid accusations of political manipulation, following the suspicious death of the survivor's father in custody and the tragic deaths of relatives in a 2019 accident.

On December 23, the Delhi High Court had suspended the sentence pending appeal, arguing that an MLA did not fit the definition of a "public servant" under the pre-2019 provisions of the POCSO Act, thereby reducing the minimum punishment — a decision that the CBI has since contested.

A Supreme Court vacation bench, presided over by Chief Justice Surya Kant, has since stayed the High Court ruling, citing significant legal issues and the troubling implications of classifying lawmakers as exempt from "public servant" status when it comes to aggravated penalties.

Sengar remains incarcerated, also serving a sentence related to the custodial death case.

In her poignant letter, Ishita reflected on eight years of silent endurance, placing her hope in institutions over "noise, hashtags, or public anger." She expressed sorrow at being merely identified as "the daughter of a BJP MLA," which has stripped her of her identity, while she faces daily threats of violence and sexual assault on social media.

"We chose silence... trusting that truth does not require a spectacle," she stated, asserting that her family has been dehumanized, financially exhausted, and overlooked despite their efforts to reach out to every authority. She emphasized the existence of a "manufactured fear" that inhibits judges and citizens alike, urging for evidence to be evaluated "without pressure" and for the truth to be upheld "even when it is unpopular."

"We are seeking justice because we are human," she stressed, concluding as "a daughter still awaiting justice" who holds faith in her country but fears regretting that belief.

The survivor's family welcomed the Supreme Court's stay, with her mother expressing renewed optimism for justice. This case continues to highlight ongoing discussions about due process, public outrage, and the accountability of those in power.