Sexual Violence
Unnao Survivor’s Hell Ride: Here's the Timeline That’ll Break Your Heart | 2017-2025
Survivor vows Supreme Court fight After Delhi HC suspends Kuldeep Sengar's life sentence; CBI to challenge bail order amid safety fears
New Delhi - The Delhi High Court on December 23 suspended the life imprisonment sentence of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case, granting him conditional bail pending his appeal against the conviction. Sengar, who has served over six years, remains in jail due to a separate 10-year sentence for the custodial death of the survivor's father.
The court ruled that as an MLA, Sengar does not qualify as a "public servant" under Section 4 of the POCSO Act, which had enhanced his punishment to life imprisonment. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) announced it will challenge the order in the Supreme Court at the earliest, emphasizing threats to the survivor's safety.
The survivor, speaking to media, expressed deep distress: "I am hurt that such a judgment has been passed. This is the first order in the country where a rape accused has been granted bail, and the sentence has been stayed... What was the CBI doing before?" In one interview, she stated, "I wanted to kill myself after my rapist got bail," and feared murder: "He raped me, now he will kill me," adding that the order is "no less than death" for her family. The survivor also said that the entire proceedings were conducted in English, and she couldn't understand anything. She announced her intention to appeal to the Supreme Court, stating that the HC decision would shatter the courage of every girl.
On Wednesday evening, December 24, the survivor met Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, seeking help to secure a strong legal team for the Supreme Court appeal. The CBI's decision to file a Special Leave Petition followed shortly after. The survivor and her mother protested at India Gate on December 23, where they were removed by police; she has vowed to fight on despite nine years of trauma, including gang rape by Sengar's aides, her father's death in custody, a self-immolation attempt outside the UP CM's residence in 2018, and a 2019 truck accident that killed two aunts and her lawyer.
Activist Yogita Bhayana, who has supported the survivor since 2017, stated on December 24: "She is resisting the order and challenging the entire system. We are looking at all options available. We want her safe... They have faced a lot of difficulties from the beginning." Bhayana highlighted: "There is a constant threat from influential people."
Former IPS officer Vikram Singh commented on institutional issues: "Credibility of CBI has taken a beating," alleging, "CBI advocate was changed midway because she was pursuing the case vigorously."
Mehmood Pracha, the survivor's advocate said, "the BJP’s Central Govt and UP govt are using all their might against victim, and the CBI is doing this as well, They are trying to withdraw security of victim and family so as to pressure them."
The Unnao rape case unfolded on June 4, 2017, when the minor victim visited Kuldeep Sengar's residence seeking employment and was raped by him and his aides.
She went missing on June 11, leading her family to file a missing persons report at Kotwali police station; she was found on June 20 in an Auraiya village and returned to Unnao.
On July 3, after 10 days in custody, she was handed to her family and demanded an FIR against Sengar and brother Atul Singh.
Her mother petitioned the Chief Judicial Magistrate on February 24, 2018; the court heard it on April 3, but that evening, Atul and associates assaulted her father and handed him to police under the Arms Act, jailing him on April 5 despite his framing claims.
On April 8, the survivor attempted self-immolation outside UP CM Yogi Adityanath's residence for an FIR against Sengar. Her father died on April 9; four assailants were arrested, and April 10 postmortem showed 14 chest injuries. The case transferred to CBI on April 12, naming Sengar prime accused; he was arrested on April 13.
First chargesheet filed July 11, 2018, implicating Sengar in rape; second on July 13 covered framing her father, involving Sengar, Atul, and police. On July 28, 2019, a truck rammed her car en route to Raebareli, killing two aunts; charges framed against Sengar and nine in father's death on August 14, 2019.
CBI chargesheet in truck attack filed October 11. Convicted of rape and kidnapping on December 16, 2019, sentenced to life December 20; Supreme Court shifted trials to Delhi in August 2019, awarding ₹25 lakh compensation.
On December 23, 2025, Delhi HC suspended the life term, prompting CBI and survivor appeals.
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