In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court has directed the Central Government to withdraw the CRPF security provided to everyone except the Unnao rape victim.
The decision follows a petition filed by the Central Government.
A bench of Justice Bela M Trivedi and Justice Prasanna B Varale clarified that while the security for the victim will continue until further orders, the same will not apply to her family members or lawyer.
The bench justified its order by pointing out that Kuldeep Singh Sengar, the convicted culprit in the case, has already received a life imprisonment sentence.
The court reasoned that the victim’s family no longer required CRPF protection.
However, the court also noted that if the family members feel threatened, they are free to reach out to the local police in their area for assistance.
With this, the petition filed by the Central Government has been disposed of.
Security Needs Re-evaluated Following Threat Assessment
In the previous hearing, advocate Rajat Nair, representing the Central Government, explained that the case had transferred to Delhi and that the victim and her family no longer resided there.
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A recent threat assessment report concluded that the family members no longer required CRPF security.
Consequently, the Central Government had requested the court to revoke the central security cover provided by the CRPF to 14 individuals connected to the Unnao case.
The court’s decision marks a shift in security measures following an evaluation of the ongoing risks to the family after Sengar’s conviction.
Details Of The Unnao Case And Conviction
Kuldeep Singh Sengar, a former BJP leader, was convicted for kidnapping and raping a minor girl from Unnao in 2017.
On March 13, 2020, the court sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the custodial death of the victim’s father.
Police arrested the victim’s father under the Arms Act, and he died in custody on April 9, 2018.
In August 2019, the Supreme Court ordered CRPF protection for the victim and her family members, along with the transfer of five related cases from the Lucknow court to a Delhi court.
The court also directed the Uttar Pradesh government to provide Rs 25 lakh compensation to the victim.
Pending Appeal And Legal Developments
Sengar’s appeal against the lower court’s decision is currently pending in the Delhi High Court.
As the case continues to unfold, the Supreme Court’s ruling reflects a shift in security provisions, emphasizing that while the victim still requires protection, the need for security for others involved in the case has diminished.
This decision brings a new chapter to the ongoing legal proceedings in the Unnao rape case, which continues to have significant social and political ramifications.
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