High Court to decide Unnao rape case afresh within two months

The Supreme Court on Friday quashed a controversial Delhi High Court decision that had suspended the life sentence of Kuldeep Singh Sengar, the former BJP legislator convicted in a 2017 rape case that shook Uttar Pradesh and drew national scrutiny.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi directed the High Court to reconsider the entire matter independently and deliver a fresh order within two months. The apex court made it clear that the Delhi High Court should proceed without any influence from the Supreme Court's current observations.

The decision came after the Central Bureau of Investigation challenged the High Court's earlier suspension order, prompting the Supreme Court to intervene and stay the order temporarily in March.

HC Order Partially Flawed, Says SC

During Friday's hearing, the bench observed that the Delhi High Court's previous judgment was "partially correct and partially incorrect," signalling that multiple aspects of the case required deeper examination. The Supreme Court emphasised the need for the High Court to conduct a thorough review while maintaining judicial independence in its fresh decision.

The apex court also directed the High Court to expedite the hearing of Sengar's appeal and complete the criminal proceedings at the earliest.

"The matter requires careful consideration on merits," the bench noted, adding that the High Court should give the case appropriate priority in its calendar.

Sengar remains incarcerated, serving a life sentence after being convicted under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act in December 2019. The case has remained one of India's most politically charged criminal matters, touching on issues of political influence, survivor protection, and systemic accountability.

The survivor, a minor at the time, had accused Sengar of sexually assaulting her at his residence in Unnao after he allegedly promised employment. What made the case particularly alarming was the chain of events that followed her initial complaint.

For months, the survivor and her family alleged police inaction and harassment by Sengar's supporters. The situation escalated dramatically in 2018 when the woman attempted self-immolation outside the residence of then Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow, claiming authorities had not acted despite her repeated complaints.

The tragedy deepened further. In 2019, the survivor's father died in judicial custody under circumstances that the family described as suspicious, following his arrest in a case allegedly engineered by Sengar's associates. Shortly after, in July that year, the survivor and her lawyer suffered severe injuries in a road accident in Rae Bareli. Two of her relatives were killed in the same incident, leading to widespread allegations of a conspiracy to silence her.

The cascade of troubling incidents prompted the Supreme Court to step in decisively. In 2019, the apex court transferred all related cases from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi, citing concerns over judicial fairness and witness protection. The move was seen as an acknowledgment that the case could not receive impartial treatment in the state where Sengar wielded considerable political influence.

The Delhi court's conviction and life sentence in December 2019 initially appeared to provide some closure, at least legally. The court had also imposed a fine and directed compensation to the survivor.

However, the subsequent High Court order suspending the sentence had reopened questions about whether the judicial process could be circumvented through appeals and technical grounds, even in a case that had attracted such intense public and political scrutiny.

The Supreme Court's intervention represents an attempt to restore confidence in the judicial handling of high-profile sexual assault cases involving political figures. The decision signals that neither political connections nor procedural technicalities will be permitted to undermine convictions in such matters.

The case has become emblematic of broader concerns about the treatment of sexual assault survivors and the role of political power in shielding the accused from justice. Legal experts say the Supreme Court's action reinforces that survivor protection and judicial integrity must remain paramount, regardless of the political standing of the accused.

With the matter now back at the Delhi High Court for fresh consideration, the coming two months will be crucial in determining whether the judicial system can maintain the conviction's integrity or whether procedural challenges will find favour.