Supreme Court to Hear CBI’s Plea Against Kuldeep Singh Sengar Bail in Unnao Case

New Delhi, Dec 2025 : The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) plea challenging the Delhi High Court’s decision to suspend the life sentence and grant bail to expelled Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case.

According to the causelist published on the apex court’s website, a three-judge Vacation Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, and Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Augustine George Masih will hear the matter. The CBI has moved the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court order dated December 23, which allowed Sengar’s application for suspension of sentence during the pendency of his appeal.

The CBI, along with the victim’s family, had earlier expressed its intention to challenge the High Court’s order, emphasizing the seriousness of the offence and the risks involved in granting bail. In the Delhi High Court, the CBI had strongly opposed Sengar’s plea, highlighting the gravity of the crime and potential threats to the victim and witnesses.

A Division Bench of the Delhi High Court, comprising Justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar, had suspended Sengar’s life sentence and granted him conditional bail during the pendency of his appeal. The order mandated strict conditions, including release on a personal bond of Rs 15 lakh, supported by three sureties of the same amount. Sengar was directed to remain in Delhi for the duration of his bail and not come within a five-kilometre radius of the victim’s residence. The court clarified that any violation of these conditions would result in the cancellation of bail.

The Unnao rape case had sparked nationwide outrage when, in December 2019, the trial court convicted Sengar of kidnapping and raping a minor girl, sentencing him to life imprisonment and imposing a fine of Rs 25 lakh. Following this, the Supreme Court had transferred all related cases from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi and ordered the trial to proceed on a day-to-day basis to ensure speedy justice.

The Delhi High Court’s bail order has triggered widespread criticism. The victim’s family and women’s rights activists have protested, stating that the suspension of Sengar’s sentence undermines public trust and sends a troubling message about the handling of crimes against women.

The upcoming Supreme Court hearing will be closely watched, as it could determine whether Sengar will remain out on bail during the pendency of his appeal or be required to serve his life sentence immediately, reflecting the judiciary’s approach to high-profile sexual assault cases and the broader issue of safeguarding victims’ rights.

Team Maverick