Kuldeep Singh Sengar, the ousted BJP leader, faced a legal setback as the Delhi High Court dismissed his petition seeking the suspension of his 10-year sentence in connection with the custodial death of the Unnao rape victim’s father. Justice Swarn Kanta Sharma, presiding over the case, cited various factors influencing such decisions, including the gravity and nature of the crime, the criminal history of the convict, and the impact on public confidence in the judiciary.
The court underscored the significance of Sengar’s criminal record, highlighting his previous conviction under Section 376 of the IPC read with Sections 5 and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, for the rape of a minor girl, resulting in a life imprisonment sentence. Additionally, Sengar was convicted for various other offences under the IPC and the Arms Act in March 2020.
The case stemmed from a tragic incident in April 2018 when the family of the minor rape victim was en route to Unnao for a court hearing. The victim’s father was brutally assaulted in broad daylight by the accused, allegedly under the protection of Sengar and his brother. Subsequently, the victim’s father was arrested by the police, accused of possessing illegal arms, and succumbed to injuries sustained in police custody.
Justice Sharma emphasized the conviction judgment’s findings, which implicated Kuldeep Singh Sengar and his brother in orchestrating the attack on the victim’s father. The court highlighted the sequence of events, which revealed the brutal assault on the victim’s father, attributing it to the protection provided by Sengar and his associates.
The trial of five cases related to the incident, including the death of the victim’s father, was transferred from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi by the Supreme Court in August 2019, underlining the gravity of the matter.
With the Delhi High Court’s dismissal of Sengar’s plea, the legal proceedings continue, underscoring the pursuit of justice in cases of heinous crimes and custodial deaths.
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