The Delhi high court’s decision to grant conditional bail to convicted rapist Kuldeep Singh Sengar has reopened painful questions about judicial delay
The Delhi high court on Tuesday suspended the life sentence of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar and granted him conditional bail in the Unnao rape case, pending the hearing of his appeal against conviction.
A bench of Justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar ordered Sengar’s release on a personal bond of ₹15 lakh with three sureties of the same amount, while imposing strict restrictions on his movement and conduct.
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Sengar has been directed not to enter within a five-kilometre radius of the survivor’s residence and not to threaten, influence, or communicate with the survivor or her mother. The court made it clear that any breach of these conditions would lead to immediate cancellation of bail. His sentence has been suspended only for the duration of the appeal proceedings.
The decision has drawn renewed attention to the Unnao rape case, widely regarded as one of India’s most disturbing examples of power shielding sexual violence. Sengar was convicted in December 2019 for kidnapping and raping a minor girl in June 2017 in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao district. The case later expanded to include allegations of intimidation, custodial violence, witness harassment, and a deadly road crash involving the survivor’s family.
The survivor’s ordeal exposed deep institutional failures. Despite an FIR, no immediate action was taken against Sengar, allowing him and his associates to allegedly intimidate the victim’s family. The survivor’s repeated pleas, including a public letter addressed to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, failed to trigger timely intervention. Matters escalated when her father was brutally assaulted, arrested on unrelated charges, and later died in custody, with postmortem findings indicating severe internal injuries.
- June 4, 2017 – Brutal gangrape in Unnao
The horrific crime began when 17-year-old girl was lured to Kanpur under the pretext of a job and abducted. Kuldeep Singh Sengar, a four-time MLA from Bangermau, along with his brother, a distant relative, and associates, gang-raped the minor, marking the start of one of India’s most infamous sexual violence cases.
- 2017–2018 – Institutional failure and intimidation
Despite FIRs being filed, authorities initially failed to act. Sengar allegedly intimidated the survivor’s family, while false cases were filed against her relatives. Her repeated pleas, including an open letter to Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, went largely unheeded.
- April 2018 – Custodial death and self-immolation attempt
The survivor’s father was mercilessly assaulted and arrested on unrelated charges; he later died in custody due to severe internal injuries. In despair, the survivor tried to immolate herself outside the CM’s residence. The case gained nationwide media attention, sparking protests and candlelight vigils.
- April 13, 2018 – Arrests following national outrage
The CBI took over the investigation and arrested Sengar, his brother Atul Singh, and other accomplices nearly a year after the gangrape. The arrests were prompted by sustained public outrage and scrutiny over police inaction and political interference.
- July 28, 2019 – Deadly attack on survivor’s family
The survivor and her family were targeted in a truck collision. Two of her aunts died instantly; she and her lawyer survived but remained critically injured. Investigations revealed lapses in the security provided to the survivor, raising concerns over systemic protection failures.
- December 2019 – Conviction and sentencing
Sengar was convicted by the Delhi court for kidnapping and raping the minor girl. He received a life sentence, with additional sentences for related charges, including custodial violence leading to the death of the survivor’s father.
Appeals and pending cases
Sengar filed appeals against his convictions, including for the custodial death of the father, claiming he had already served a substantial portion of his sentence. Proceedings related to threats, intimidation, and the Arms Act case against the father remain ongoing.
December 23, 2025 – Conditional bail granted
The Delhi High Court granted conditional bail to Kuldeep Singh Sengar, suspending his jail sentence for the duration of his appeal. He was ordered to furnish a Rs 15-lakh personal bond with three sureties of the same amount. Strict conditions included:
- No entry within 5 km of the survivor’s residence
- No threat or influence over the survivor or her mother
- The bench warned that violation of any condition would lead to cancellation of bail.
Ongoing concerns – Justice delayed, trauma amplified
While the bail is legally permissible under appeal rights, it reignites public debate over systemic failure, judicial delays, and the vulnerability of survivors. The case is a stark reminder of how abuse of political power and administrative inaction can exacerbate trauma and undermine trust in the justice system.
Legal experts and activists warn that while appeals are part of due process, the victim’s safety, trauma, and ongoing ordeal must be central considerations to prevent further erosion of confidence in the judicial system.
Published: 23 Dec 2025, 04:07 pm IST
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