The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday filed a special leave petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court’s order to suspend the life sentence of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case.
The CBI filed the SLP days after the survivor met Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, seeking their assistance in her fight against Sengar.
“On Friday, the CBI has filed an SLP before the Hon’ble Supreme Court against the orders of Delhi High Court which suspended the sentence and granted bail to accused K S Senger in Unnao Rape case,” a CBI spokesperson said.
“Before filing an SLP, the CBI has studied the orders of the Division Bench of the Delhi High Court in the Unnao rape case,” the spokesperson added.
Sengar was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2019 by a Delhi trial court for raping a minor girl in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh. The court found him guilty under Section 376 (2) (rape) of the IPC and Sections 5(c) & 6 of the POCSO Act. The case was later probed and prosecuted by the CBI.
On Tuesday, the Delhi HC suspended Sengar’s jail term, drawing sharp criticism from various quarters including a section of civil society.
Under an SLP, the aggrieved party is provided a special permission to be heard in the top court, in appeal against the order or judgment of any court or tribunal.