Protests Erupt Outside Delhi High Court Over Bail to Unnao Rape Convict Kuldeep Sengar
Protesters demand justice after Unnao convict gets conditional release.
Dozens of protesters, including women's rights activists, gathered outside the Delhi High Court on Friday to vehemently oppose the court's decision to suspend the life sentence of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar, convicted in the 2017 Unnao rape case. Demonstrators raised slogans condemning the bail order, while security personnel issued warnings to disperse within minutes or face legal consequences, highlighting the intensity of public anger over perceived leniency toward a high-profile convict.
The Unnao rape survivor, now 24 and residing in Delhi, expressed profound distress over the development, stating that she feels "extremely unsafe" despite court-imposed restrictions barring Sengar from approaching within five kilometers of her. She recounted past threats, referencing a 2019 car accident orchestrated by his associates that killed two relatives and her lawyer, emphasizing that Sengar's influence extends through henchmen who could endanger her family even from afar.
The survivor's mother voiced fierce opposition in interviews, declaring that the bail should be immediately revoked and demanding that those responsible for her husband's murder be hanged without delay. She revealed a loss of faith in the Delhi High Court, vowing to appeal to the Supreme Court and, if necessary, seek justice internationally, while noting that previously provided security for her and her three children had been withdrawn earlier this year.
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Women's rights activist Yogita Bhayana, present at the demonstration, articulated widespread national hurt among women, asserting that the suspension of a rapist's sentence undermines justice and that protesters would pursue redress from the very institution where the perceived injustice occurred. Other demonstrators questioned the grounds for granting bail to a convict responsible for rape and related murders, insisting that his release erodes women's sense of safety across the country.
Sengar, sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2019 for raping a minor in Unnao and linked to subsequent crimes against the victim's family, benefited from the Delhi High Court's Tuesday ruling, which noted his served time exceeded POCSO Act maximums for certain charges. Despite enhanced CRPF protection for the survivor ranging from five to eleven personnel, the family's renewed fears underscore ongoing concerns about powerful perpetrators evading full accountability.
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