Thu Dec 25 01:10:18 UTC 2025: ## CBI to Challenge Suspension of Unnao Rape Case Life Sentence in Supreme Court

New Delhi – December 25, 2025 (The Hindu e-Paper) – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) announced yesterday it will immediately challenge the Delhi High Court’s decision to suspend the life sentence of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case.

The decision follows a review of the High Court’s order, which granted Sengar bail after he had served seven years and five months of his life sentence. Despite the suspension, Sengar will remain incarcerated as he is also serving a 10-year sentence for the custodial death of the rape survivor’s father.

The CBI emphasized in a statement that it had vehemently opposed Sengar’s appeal against his life sentence in the High Court, citing safety concerns and threats to the victim and her family. The agency has pledged to file a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court at the earliest.

The High Court’s ruling has sparked significant controversy. On Tuesday, the rape survivor and her mother protested the decision and were allegedly forcefully removed by Delhi Police. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has strongly criticized the situation, questioning the treatment of the survivor and condemning the granting of bail to Sengar. He described the situation as a “shameful” injustice and expressed concerns about the erosion of democratic principles and societal values.

Gandhi met with the rape survivor and her mother yesterday, promising to provide top-tier legal assistance to fight the case in the Supreme Court. He affirmed his commitment to ensuring justice and treating the survivor with respect.

Sengar was convicted in December 2019 of kidnapping and raping the victim in 2017, when she was a minor. The case was transferred to Delhi from Uttar Pradesh by the Supreme Court in August 2019. The Delhi High Court imposed several conditions for Sengar’s bail, including a personal bond of ₹15 lakh, three sureties of the same amount, and restrictions on his proximity to the victim’s residence in Delhi.

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