‘Won’t rest until he is hanged’: Unnao rape survivor after SC stays Sengar’s suspension of life sentence

The survivor of the Unnao rape case expressed strong relief and satisfaction after the Supreme Court stayed the Delhi High Court order that had suspended the life sentence of former MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar. Speaking after the Supreme Court’s decision, the survivor said she would continue her fight for justice and declared that she would not rest until Sengar is punished to the fullest extent of the law.

The Supreme Court acted on a petition filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which challenged the Delhi High Court’s decision to suspend Sengar’s life sentence. The apex court also issued a notice to Sengar and asked him to respond. Importantly, the court made it clear that Sengar would not be released from jail.

Survivor reacts to Supreme Court decision

Reacting to the Supreme Court’s order, the survivor told news agency PTI that she felt justice had finally been done. She said she was very happy with the decision and thanked the apex court for intervening at the right time.

“I have been fighting for justice from the beginning. Today, I feel that the Supreme Court has given me justice,” she said. The survivor added that she has always trusted the judicial system and never made allegations against any court.

She said the Supreme Court’s decision had strengthened her faith even more. According to her, the court’s intervention showed that justice still prevails, even in long and painful cases like hers.

Reiterating her determination, the survivor said she would not stop fighting until Sengar receives the maximum punishment. She also said that her family continues to receive threats even today, years after the crime took place.

Family members of the survivor also welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision. Her sister said the ruling restored their faith in the justice system and expressed confidence that Sengar would not be allowed to walk free.

Calling Sengar a “monster,” the survivor’s sister said he had not only raped her sister but had also destroyed their entire family. She said she was satisfied with the Supreme Court’s order and hoped that Sengar’s bail would remain rejected.

The survivor’s mother also thanked the Supreme Court. She said those responsible for her husband’s death deserved the death penalty. The family believes that only strict punishment will bring them peace and closure.

What the court said and background of the case

Earlier in the day, a vacation bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices J K Maheshwari and Augustine George Masih, stayed the Delhi High Court order dated December 23. The bench observed that the matter required serious consideration and said that Sengar should remain in custody.

The Delhi High Court had suspended Sengar’s life sentence on December 23, noting that he had already spent seven years and five months in prison. The high court had granted him bail while his appeal against conviction was pending.

Sengar had challenged a December 2019 trial court verdict that convicted him in the rape case. However, despite the high court’s order, Sengar would have remained in jail as he is also serving a 10-year sentence in another related case.

Sengar, an expelled BJP leader and former MLA from Unnao, was convicted for raping the survivor in 2017, when she was a minor. The case shocked the nation and drew widespread attention due to the influence wielded by Sengar at the time.

In addition to the rape case, Sengar was also convicted in the custodial death case of the survivor’s father. The father was arrested under the Arms Act at Sengar’s alleged behest and later died in custody on April 9, 2018. In March 2020, a court sentenced Sengar to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment in this case and imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh.

Sengar’s brother, Atul Singh Sengar, and five others were also convicted and sentenced in connection with the custodial death case.

Due to concerns about fairness and safety, the Supreme Court had earlier ordered that the rape case and related matters be transferred from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi on August 1, 2019. The move was seen as necessary to ensure a free and fair trial.

The Supreme Court’s latest decision has once again brought attention to the long legal battle faced by the survivor and her family. Legal experts say the stay on the high court order sends a strong message that serious crimes cannot be treated lightly, especially when appeals are still pending.

For the survivor and her family, the decision is a moment of relief in a case that has involved years of pain, loss, and fear. They continue to hope that the legal process will ultimately deliver complete justice.