The Delhi High Court will hear Kuldeep Singh Sengar’s plea on February 19 in the Unnao custodial death case after the Supreme Court of India sought an expedited hearing, keeping multiple linked appeals in focus.
Sengar is challenging his conviction and the 10-year prison sentence
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court is set to hear former Uttar Pradesh MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar’s plea in the Unnao custodial death case on February 19, following directions from the Supreme Court of India for an expedited hearing.
On Monday, the High Court referred the matter to a bench led by the Chief Justice, complying with the apex court’s request to take up Sengar’s appeal “out of turn.”
Sengar is challenging his conviction and the 10-year prison sentence awarded to him in connection with the custodial death of the father of the Unnao rape survivor. The High Court is expected to consider the matter later this week, amid heightened legal scrutiny surrounding the case.
Earlier, the Supreme Court declined to entertain Sengar’s petition challenging a January 19 order of the High Court that refused to suspend his sentence. While dismissing his plea, the apex court observed that if the victim’s family has filed an appeal against the trial court’s verdict, the High Court should hear it alongside Sengar’s pending appeal to ensure a comprehensive adjudication.
The bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and N V Anjaria, also expressed concern over comments made to the media by the victim’s counsel. The Chief Justice cautioned against parallel proceedings in the public domain, remarking that the court would not permit a “media trial” while the matter remains sub judice.
Sengar was convicted in December 2019 in the Unnao rape case and sentenced to life imprisonment, along with a fine of Rs 25 lakh. In December last year, the Delhi High Court suspended his life sentence in the rape case. However, the Supreme Court stayed that relief after the Central Bureau of Investigation challenged the order.
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The apex court noted that suspension of sentence was not appropriate given Sengar’s conviction in another related case. The CBI’s appeal remains pending before the Supreme Court.
With multiple proceedings underway, the February 19 hearing is expected to be a crucial development in the ongoing legal battle.
