Wed Dec 31 03:00:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a news article summarizing the provided text, suitable for “The Hindu” e-Paper:

Headline: Supreme Court Halts Bail for Ex-MLA Sengar in Unnao Rape Case, Citing Public Outrage

New Delhi, December 31, 2025: The Supreme Court has intervened in the controversial Unnao rape case, staying the Delhi High Court’s decision to suspend the life sentence and grant bail to former Uttar Pradesh MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar. A three-judge vacation bench, led by CJI Surya Kant, issued the notice on December 29th, just six days after the High Court’s ruling sparked widespread public condemnation.

Sengar was convicted in 2019 of raping a minor in 2017. The trial court sentenced him to life imprisonment. The High Court’s decision to suspend his sentence hinged on a technicality, arguing that, as an MLA, Sengar didn’t qualify as a “public servant” under the POCSO Act, potentially invalidating his conviction under a stricter section of the law dealing with abuse of authority. They also cited Sengar having served 7 years and there needing to be a fair chance of acquittal.

Critics argue this interpretation undermines the intent of the POCSO Act, a special law designed to protect children. Legal experts point out that the SC must asses whether the convict has a fair chance of acquittal. The High Court’s decision did not address concerns around the victim’s safety. Sengar has a history of intimidation and violence, including the custodial death of the victim’s father and a suspicious car accident that injured her and killed two relatives. This limitation is legislatively inherited, not judicially created.

The Supreme Court’s intervention underscores the seriousness of the case and concerns about potential loopholes in the legal definition of “public servant” within the context of child protection laws. It also highlights the persistent struggle for justice faced by survivors of sexual violence in India, and its limits and expansion for justice for all. The case will continue to be closely watched as the legal arguments are further examined.

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