New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Supreme Court of India on Monday postponed to the first week of May the hearing on a plea filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation challenging the suspension of life imprisonment of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said the matter would be taken up after the conclusion of hearings by a nine-judge bench on the Sabarimala review proceedings.
During the hearing, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Sengar, raised concerns over delays in a related case pending before the Delhi High Court involving the alleged custodial death of the victim’s father. He argued that Sengar, who has been awarded a 10-year sentence in that case, is nearing completion of his term without substantial hearings taking place, and sought bail on that ground.
Counsel for the victim, Mehmood Pracha, contested the claim, stating that only one adjournment had been sought in the high court. The Chief Justice recorded the assurance of both sides that no further adjournments would be requested and that proceedings in the high court would be expedited.
Earlier, on December 29, 2025, the apex court had stayed a December 23 order of the Delhi High Court that suspended Sengar’s life sentence in the rape case. The Supreme Court had ruled that he would remain in custody, noting that significant legal questions had arisen in the matter.
The high court had granted relief to Sengar by observing that, although he was convicted under provisions of the POCSO Act, an elected representative did not fall within the definition of a “public servant” under Section 21 of the IPC. This interpretation has been challenged by the CBI, which argues that public office holders such as MLAs should be treated as public servants, citing judicial precedents.
Sengar, convicted in 2019, has been in jail since and continues to remain in custody due to his conviction in the custodial death case as well. The Unnao rape case and related matters were transferred from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi in 2019 on the directions of the Supreme Court.
The case has drawn widespread public attention, with protests by the survivor’s family and activists following the high court’s decision to suspend the sentence.
