Mon Dec 29 07:30:00 UTC 2025: Supreme Court Halts Bail for Ex-Legislator in Unnao Rape Case
New Delhi, India – The Supreme Court on Monday suspended the bail granted to former Uttar Pradesh legislator Kuldeep Singh Sengar by the Delhi High Court. Sengar had been convicted of rape in the Unnao case and sentenced to life imprisonment, which the High Court had temporarily suspended.
A vacation bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Justice JK Maheshwari, and Justice Augustine George Masih issued a notice to Sengar in response to an appeal from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The court stated that Sengar should not be released from jail following the High Court’s order.
The Supreme Court raised concerns about the High Court’s interpretation of the term “public servant” under Section 5 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, suggesting it could potentially exempt lawmakers from the law’s purview.
The CBI argued that the High Court erred in concluding that Sengar, as an MLA, did not qualify as a “public servant” under the POCSO Act. The agency emphasized Sengar’s influential position and the potential threat to the victim and her family if he were released, further undermining public confidence in the justice system.
The Solicitor General of India, Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, highlighted the gravity of the case and emphasized the minimum 20-year sentence applicable after amendments to rape-related provisions. The court acknowledged that the amendments came into effect after the crime was committed.
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