Unnao Rape Case: Protest Outside Delhi HC Against Suspension Of Sengar's Jail Term

New Delhi: Women's organisations protested outside the Delhi High Court on Friday to oppose the suspension of Kuldeep Singh Sengar’s life sentence in the 2017 Unnao rape case and his bail pending appeal.

The protesters, holding placards and raising slogans in support of the Unnao rape survivor, demanded that “rapists should not be protected” and appealed for justice for the victim and her family. The protest was joined by women activists from various organisations, including the All India Democratic Women’s Association, social activist Yogita Bhayana and the survivor’s mother.

At the protest, the survivor’s mother shared her daughter's trauma and expressed disappointment. "My daughter has endured unimaginable pain. The High Court’s decision has broken our trust. This is an injustice to our family," she said.

She added that while earlier judges had provided justice, granting bail to the accused now compelled them to seek redress in the Supreme Court, where she maintained hope.

The survivor, expressing anguish over the order, said the decision raised serious questions about women’s safety. “If such a big criminal is granted bail, how will the daughters of this country remain safe?” she asked.

Social activist Yogita Bhayana said the widespread protests reflected the anger of people across the country. “After so much struggle, we hope this case moves towards justice. The entire country is standing with this daughter today. Even if justice comes under pressure, it must come,” she said.

She added that the survivor’s safety was under serious threat. “Her life is in danger. Her security must be the top priority. Even the CBI will have to act firmly to protect its credibility,” Bhayana said.

Earlier this week, protests took place at prominent locations such as India Gate and Mandi House with participation from the survivor, her mother, and women activists. These events preceded Friday’s renewed protest outside the High Court, where several women’s groups gathered, holding placards with slogans such as “Stop the murder of justice” and “Send the guilty behind bars”.

Women protesters said the bail order was like a “death sentence” for the survivor and her family. Some alleged that the timing of the bail could be politically motivated and said they feared for their own safety as well as that of the survivor.

Bihar Pradesh Mahila Congress working president Dr Kumari Soni, who was present at the protest, said the survivor had already been “living a suffocated life” and that granting bail to the convict amounted to grave injustice.

“When the survivor protested with her mother at India Gate, she was dragged to the police station. This treatment should have been given to the accused, not the victim,” she said.

Delhi Mahila Congress president Pushpa Singh targeted the BJP, alleging that the government supported those accused of sexual crimes.

“Even if we are few in number outside the High Court today, we will not stop until the Unnao rape survivor gets justice. We will fight from the streets to Parliament,” she said.

Tension briefly escalated during the protest when Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel attempted to disperse the demonstrators.

The Delhi High Court, while hearing Sengar’s appeal, suspended his life sentence. The court noted that he had already spent about seven years and five months in prison and imposed strict bail conditions, including barring him from entering a five-kilometre radius of the survivor’s residence and prohibiting any attempt to threaten the survivor or her family. Sengar was also directed to furnish a personal bond of Rs 15 lakh.

However, Sengar will remain in jail, as he is also serving a 10-year sentence in a separate case related to the custodial death of the survivor’s father and has not been granted bail in that matter.

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