Delhi High Court Suspends Sentence
In a significant development, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, suspended the life imprisonment sentence of Kuldeep Singh Sengar, the expelled BJP leader convicted in the 2017 Unnao rape case. A division bench comprising Justice Subramonium Prasad and Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar granted Sengar bail during the pendency of his appeal challenging his conviction and sentence.
Conditional Bail Granted
The High Court imposed several stringent conditions for Sengar's bail. He is required to furnish a personal bond of Rs 15 lakh along with three sureties of the same amount. Furthermore, Sengar has been explicitly directed not to enter within a five-kilometre radius of the victim's residence and is prohibited from threatening or contacting the victim or her mother in any manner. The court also mandated that he must remain in Delhi during the bail period and report to the local police station every Monday at 10 am. His passport must be deposited with the trial court, and any violation of these conditions will result in the cancellation of his bail.
Background of the Unnao Rape Case
Kuldeep Singh Sengar, a former four-time MLA from Uttar Pradesh, was convicted in December 2019 by a trial court for the rape of a minor girl in Unnao in 2017 and subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment. The case garnered national attention due to its sensitive nature and a series of related incidents, including the victim's attempt at self-immolation, the custodial death of her father, and a suspicious car accident that critically injured the victim and her lawyer, leading to the deaths of two of her relatives. In August 2019, the Supreme Court transferred all five cases related to the incident from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi for expedited hearings.
Continued Custody Despite Bail
Despite the suspension of his life sentence and the grant of bail in the rape case, Sengar will not be immediately released from custody. He is currently serving a separate 10-year sentence in connection with the custodial death case of the Unnao rape victim's father. Sengar's appeal seeking suspension of sentence in this separate matter is also pending before the High Court. The High Court has directed that Sengar's criminal appeal and connected application for the rape case be listed before the appropriate roster bench on January 15, 2026.
5 Comments
ZmeeLove
The court has imposed strict bail conditions, which is good, but given his history and the victim's past experiences, one can't help but worry about her safety. It highlights the complexities of legal precedent versus public safety.
Muchacho
It's not an acquittal, just a suspension for the appeal. Let the courts work.
Coccinella
The legal system is doing its job. Everyone deserves an appeal process.
Habibi
Typical. The powerful always find a way out. No faith in the system.
Africa
It's important to remember this is a suspension pending appeal, not an acquittal, and he remains in custody for another case. However, for many, this decision erodes trust in the system, especially considering the severe nature of his original conviction.