Unnao Rape Case: Supreme Court Halts Delhi HC Order, Kuldeep Sengar to Stay Behind Bars

The Supreme Court on Tuesday halted the suspension of the life sentence awarded to former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case, ensuring that he remains in jail while his appeal is heard.

The top court stayed a recent order of the Delhi High Court that had put his sentence on hold and granted him conditional bail, a move that had triggered widespread protests and strong objections from the survivor.

Supreme Court stays Delhi High Court bail order

A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant took note of the circumstances of the case and the fact that Sengar stands convicted in more than one serious offence. While issuing notice on a petition filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation, the court made it clear that the High Court's decision would not operate for now.

"...In view of peculiar facts where convict is convicted for a separate offence, we stay operation of Delhi High Court order dated December 23, 2025. Thus respondent (Sengar) shall not be released pursuant to the said order," the Chief Justice said in open court.

The Supreme Court also allowed the Unnao rape survivor to intervene in the matter and granted four weeks' time to Sengar to respond.

Why the High Court had granted relief

On December 23, the Delhi High Court had suspended Sengar's life sentence while his appeal was pending. The court observed that he had already spent over seven years and five months in prison and ordered his release on conditional bail.

Despite that order, Sengar was not set to walk free immediately as he is serving a concurrent sentence in another case linked to the custodial death of the survivor's father.

Background of the Unnao rape case

Sengar was convicted in December 2019 for the rape of a minor girl in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao district and was sentenced to life imprisonment along with a fine of ₹25 lakh. The case had drawn national attention after the survivor's family alleged intimidation, harassment and attempts to shield the powerful politician.

The High Court's recent order led to protests in several places, with women's groups and activists raising concerns over the message it sent to survivors of sexual violence.

Survivor alleges pressure and bribery

Speaking at a protest in the national capital organised by the All India Progressive Women Association, the survivor said she hoped the Supreme Court would deliver justice. She alleged that Sengar had paid bribes to officials, including the investigating officer and even a judge of the Delhi High Court, claims that remain unproven.

She also said her family had faced severe hardship after the bail order and expressed relief after the Supreme Court stepped in to halt Sengar's release.