SC to hear CBI plea on Sengar bail on Dec 29

The Supreme Court will hear the Central Bureau of Investigation’s appeal against the bail granted to former Uttar Pradesh MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case on December 29. The matter will be taken up by a three-judge vacation bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.

Sengar was convicted in December 2019 for the rape of a minor and sentenced to life imprisonment along with a fine of ₹25 lakh. Although the Delhi High Court recently suspended his life sentence pending appeal and granted him bail, Sengar will continue to remain in prison as he is serving a separate 10-year sentence in another CBI case related to murder.

Earlier, the CBI moved the Supreme Court by filing a Special Leave Petition challenging the Delhi High Court’s December 23 order that granted Sengar bail and suspended his sentence.

Meanwhile, the rape survivor and her mother met CBI officials in New Delhi on Saturday and submitted a complaint alleging serious misconduct during the investigation. They claimed that the investigating officer colluded with a judge to favour the accused and undermine the victim’s case.

After the meeting, the survivor said she had sought to meet a senior official but was informed it was a holiday. A junior official, however, accepted her complaint and assured that a senior officer would meet them on Monday. She alleged that the investigating officer acted against her interests and deliberately weakened the case to ensure that the accused benefitted.

The victim’s mother also expressed concern over the handling of the case, stating that the family is prepared to approach the Supreme Court for justice. She said their trust in the investigative agency would depend on whether it stands by them during the proceedings before the apex court.

The case continues to draw national attention amid legal scrutiny over the bail order and fresh allegations raised by the survivor against the investigation process.