Inside Courtroom No. 1 on Monday, the mood was firm and unyielding. The Supreme Court shut the door on any immediate relief for former Uttar Pradesh MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, refusing to entertain his plea for bail in the case linked to the custodial death of the Unnao rape survivor’s father. Instead, the court pressed the accelerator on the pending appeal, asking the Delhi High Court to hear it “out of turn” and decide it within three months.
Background of the Case
Kuldeep Sengar, once a powerful political figure, is already serving a life sentence for the rape of a minor girl from Unnao. The present case stems from a separate but closely linked incident in April 2018.
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On the day the victim’s family travelled to Unnao for a court hearing, her father was brutally assaulted in public. The next day, he was arrested by police on allegations of illegal arms possession. He died shortly after in custody, with injuries pointing to severe assault.
In 2020, a Delhi court convicted Sengar for conspiring in the custodial death and sentenced him to 10 years in prison. His appeal against this conviction has been pending before the Delhi High Court.
What Happened in Court
A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and N.V. Anjaria, heard Sengar’s challenge to the Delhi High Court’s refusal to suspend his sentence.
Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for Sengar, stressed the length of incarceration. “Nine years and seven months have already been completed out of a ten-year sentence,” he submitted, arguing that suspension of sentence during appeal is usually the norm in such cases.
He also pointed out that some co-accused had already been granted bail after serving their terms.
Court’s Observations
The bench was not persuaded. Justice Bagchi posed a pointed question that seemed to cut to the heart of the matter:
“If you are serving a life sentence in another offence, is that not a relevant consideration for suspension of sentence?”
The court made it clear that Sengar’s life imprisonment in the rape case could not be ignored while considering bail in the custodial death case.
The bench also took note of parallel proceedings. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, informed the court that the main appeal against conviction was already listed in the Delhi High Court, though much later. He suggested an expedited hearing instead of interim bail.
The judges agreed. “Let the Delhi High Court take up the appeal within one week,” the bench observed, adding that if required, appeals filed by the victim for enhancement of sentence and by co-accused could be heard together, even if it meant changing the bench composition.
Victim’s Stand and Court’s Caution
Counsel for the victim informed the court that an appeal had been filed seeking conversion of the conviction from culpable homicide to murder, which could mean a life sentence.
During the hearing, the Chief Justice also expressed displeasure over public commentary on the case. The court said it did not approve of “media trials” while matters were still sub judice.
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Decision
In the end, the Supreme Court refused to grant bail or suspend Sengar’s sentence. It directed the Delhi High Court to hear the appeal on a priority basis and conclude it within three months.
For now, Kuldeep Sengar remains behind bars, with the focus firmly shifted to a swift final hearing rather than interim relief.
Case Title: Kuldeep Singh Sengar vs Central Bureau of Investigation
Case No.: SLP (Crl) No. 2204/2026
