The Central Bureau of Investigation is set to approach the Supreme Court to contest the recent decision granting bail to former Uttar Pradesh MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case. Officials said the agency has decided to challenge the suspension of Sengar’s life sentence ordered by the Delhi High Court while his appeal remains pending.
According to sources, the CBI has completed its legal review of the High Court ruling and will file a Special Leave Petition at the earliest. The investigating agency maintains that the seriousness of the crime and the long history of intimidation faced by the survivor warrant continued incarceration of the convict.
Earlier this week, the Delhi High Court put Sengar’s life sentence on hold and allowed him bail, subject to strict conditions. The court barred him from entering the vicinity of the survivor’s home and warned that any attempt to threaten or influence her would result in immediate cancellation of bail. Despite this relief, Sengar continues to remain in jail as he is also serving a separate sentence in the custodial death case linked to the survivor’s father.
The High Court order has reignited concern over the safety of the survivor and her family. On Wednesday, the survivor met Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi following her protest against the bail order. The meeting took place in the presence of Sonia Gandhi, where assurances were given that efforts would be made to support the family legally and ensure their security.
During the interaction, the survivor’s family sought assistance for strong legal representation in the Supreme Court, relocation to a safer location due to ongoing fear, and employment support for her husband. Rahul Gandhi assured them of help on all three fronts.
The Unnao case has remained one of the most high-profile criminal cases in recent years. The survivor was assaulted as a minor in 2017, and subsequent events, including the custodial death of her father, drew national outrage. The Supreme Court later transferred all related trials from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi to ensure a fair and secure judicial process.
