Unnao Rape Case: Supreme Court Stay on Sengar’s Sentence Brings Limited Relief, Says Victim’s Lawyer

New Delhi, Dec 2025 : The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Delhi High Court’s order that had suspended the life sentence of expelled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case, a move that ensured the former Uttar Pradesh MLA would not be released from jail for now. While the decision provided some immediate reassurance, the victim’s lawyer, Mehmood Pracha, said it could not be termed a victory and that several critical concerns remain unaddressed.

Reacting to the apex court’s order, Pracha said the stay offered only partial relief to the survivor. “I can assure the victim that there is some relief. It should not be called a victory, but we do have some relief,” he said, while underscoring that the broader issues in the case were yet to be examined.

Pracha was sharply critical of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which had approached the Supreme Court challenging the High Court’s December 23 order. He alleged that the agency restricted its submissions to a narrow legal point and failed to consult the victim’s legal team before arguing the matter. “The CBI took a stand on a very limited issue and did not raise our strongest arguments. They did not consult us at all,” Pracha said, adding that there was extensive evidence supporting the survivor’s case.

According to him, the Supreme Court’s hearing did not delve into the core aspects of the case. “The court did not hear us on the main issues. The CBI argued only superficial points, while we have the entire case. The CBI did not even make us a party in this matter,” he said, stressing that the outcome could not be celebrated as a decisive win for the victim.

Expressing anguish over the survivor’s ongoing trauma, Pracha questioned whether the order truly delivered meaningful relief. “I leave it to the people of this country and the legal fraternity to judge whether this is a major relief. For me, the answer is no,” he said. Recalling the emotional toll on the survivor, he added that he had not even been given an opportunity to speak to her about the Supreme Court’s order. “Do you expect me to be happy when the CRPF took the girl away? I couldn’t even talk to her about what happened,” he remarked.

The Supreme Court vacation bench hearing the matter was headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and also included Justices J.K. Maheshwari and A.G. Masih. The bench was considering a petition filed by the CBI against the Delhi High Court’s order that had suspended Sengar’s life sentence and granted him bail pending appeal in the rape case.

While staying the High Court order, the Supreme Court noted that Sengar is already in custody in another criminal case. “We have been informed that the convict has also been convicted and sentenced under Section 304 of the IPC and is in custody in that case as well. In view of these special circumstances, we stay the operation of the impugned order. The respondent will not be released,” the bench said.

The apex court also issued notice to Sengar, directing him to respond to the CBI’s petition within two weeks. Although the High Court had granted him bail in the rape case, Sengar continues to remain in prison as he is serving a separate 10-year sentence in a CBI case related to the custodial death of the rape survivor’s father.

Sengar was convicted in December 2019 in the Unnao rape case and sentenced to life imprisonment along with a fine of ₹25 lakh. The case, which involved the sexual assault of a minor, had sparked nationwide outrage and became a symbol of the fight against abuse of power.

With the Supreme Court’s interim intervention, Sengar’s release has been halted, but the victim’s lawyer maintains that true justice will only be achieved when all substantive issues are fully heard and addressed by the court.