CBI Challenges Delhi HC Order Suspending Kuldeep Sengar's Sentence in Unnao Rape Case

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In a move to uphold justice, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court's decision to suspend the sentence of Kuldeep Singh Sengar, a former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, in the 2017 Unnao rape case. Sengar was convicted to life imprisonment and fined ₹25 lakh in December 2019 for the heinous crime. The Delhi High Court had suspended Sengar's sentence, citing that he had already served more than 7 years and 5 months in prison, which is more than the minimum punishment prescribed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act at the time of the offence. However, the CBI disputes this decision, arguing that the high court erred in suspending the sentence as the rape survivor's testimony and evidence collected by the agency had conclusively established Sengar's role in the crime. The CBI's move comes as Sengar remains in jail, serving a 10-year imprisonment sentence for a separate CBI case of murder. The agency has contended that the high court's decision was based on a technical interpretation of the law, which may have far-reaching implications. The case revolves around whether a legislator can be considered a 'public servant' under the Pocso Act, which would attract a higher sentence. The CBI's petition seeks to challenge the high court's order, which granted bail to Sengar in the Unnao rape case, citing that the accused does not fall within the category of 'public servant' under the law. The agency aims to ensure that justice is served and that Sengar faces the consequences of his actions. The Unnao rape case has been a highly publicized and disturbing incident, and the CBI's move to challenge the high court's decision is a crucial step towards upholding justice and protecting the rights of the rape survivor.