The Supreme Court has stayed the Delhi High Court’s order granting bail to former MLA and main accused Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the Unnao rape case. Sengar’s life imprisonment sentence had been temporarily suspended, prompting the victim’s family to approach the apex court. During Monday’s hearing, the bench reviewed CBI’s concerns regarding the victim’s safety and issued notices to Sengar, directing him to respond to the petition seeking cancellation of bail within four weeks.
Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, hearing the matter, underscored that Sengar, convicted in a brutal rape case, should not be released from jail. Questioning the accused’s lawyers, the bench highlighted the contrast between public servants and lawmakers, noting that even the best judges can occasionally err.
The case stems from a 2017 incident in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, where a 17-year-old minor Dalit girl was gang-raped, with Sengar, a four-time BJP MLA, identified as the main accused. Despite the victim’s attempts to seek justice, including a suicide attempt outside the Chief Minister’s residence, the police failed to act promptly. In December 2019, a special Delhi court convicted Sengar, sentencing him to life imprisonment with a ₹25 lakh fine, and in March 2020, he received a 10-year term in the custodial death of the victim’s father. After nearly five years in jail, Sengar appealed the Delhi High Court’s order, citing investigation lapses. The court had granted conditional bail on December 23, 2025, which has now been stayed by the Supreme Court.