In a fresh turn in the long-running Unnao rape case, the Delhi High Court on Thursday sought responses from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and former BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar after the survivor approached the court to place additional evidence on record. The plea comes while Sengar’s appeal against his life sentence is already pending before the High Court.
Background of the Case
Kuldeep Singh Sengar, a former Uttar Pradesh MLA, was convicted in 2019 by a special CBI court in Delhi for the rape of a minor girl in Unnao district and was sentenced to life imprisonment. The case had shocked the nation, not only for the crime itself but also for the alleged intimidation faced by the survivor and her family.
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Following directions of the Supreme Court, the trial was shifted from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi to ensure a fair hearing. Over the years, several related cases - including attacks on the survivor’s family - were also probed by the CBI.
Sengar later filed an appeal in the Delhi High Court challenging both his conviction and sentence. In December 2025, the High Court suspended his sentence and granted him bail. However, the Supreme Court stayed that order within days, bringing him back under custody while the appeal continues.
What the Survivor Told the Court
On Thursday, the survivor moved a fresh application before a division bench of Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Madhu Jain, seeking permission to lead further evidence in Sengar’s appeal case.
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Her counsel, Advocate Mehmood Pracha, told the court that the survivor wants to place additional documents on record, especially relating to her age. These include school records that, according to him, are crucial to the issues being raised in the appeal.
“The applicant is seeking to bring clarity on material facts which go to the root of the case,” Pracha submitted before the bench.
Court’s Observations
While hearing the initial submissions, the bench noticed that the documents referred to in the application were not attached.
Pointing this out, the court observed that it could not examine the request properly without seeing the papers. The judges directed the survivor’s counsel to file all relevant documents by January 31.
“The court noted that the application is incomplete without supporting material,” a lawyer present in court said, adding that the bench appeared keen to follow due process before taking the matter forward.
CBI and Sengar Asked to Respond
The High Court has now directed both the CBI and Kuldeep Singh Sengar to file their replies to the survivor’s application within two weeks.
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Senior advocate N. Hariharan appeared on behalf of Sengar during the hearing.
The court also fixed February 25 as the next date of hearing, when it will consider whether the survivor can be allowed to lead additional evidence at this stage of the appeal.
The Larger Legal Context
The plea gains importance because Sengar’s appeal is said to be at an advanced stage of hearing. Earlier, while suspending his sentence, the High Court had made certain prima facie observations about the applicability of provisions under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
At that stage, the court had indicated that the offence may not fall under the category of “aggravated” sexual assault under Section 5 of POCSO, and that Sengar might not qualify as a “public servant” for the purpose of enhanced punishment under the law. These observations were later put on hold after the Supreme Court stayed the suspension of his sentence.
Against this backdrop, the survivor’s move to introduce fresh material has added a new legal layer to an already complex case.
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Decision So Far
For now, the Delhi High Court has:
- Directed the survivor to file all supporting documents by January 31.
- Asked the CBI and Kuldeep Singh Sengar to submit their replies within two weeks.
- Listed the matter for further hearing on February 25.
The court will take a call on the survivor’s request to lead additional evidence after hearing all sides on the next date.
Case Title: Kuldeep Singh Sengar v. Central Bureau of Investigation
Case No.: Criminal Appeal (Arising out of Unnao rape conviction)
Decision Date: Next hearing on February 25, 2026
