Supreme Court cancels Kuldeep Sengar bail in Unnao Rape Case

The Supreme Court on Friday set aside the Delhi High Court order that had suspended the life sentence of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case and directed the High Court to hear the matter afresh.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi asked the Delhi High Court to make efforts to decide Sengar’s appeal against conviction within two months.

The apex court also said that if the main appeal could not be heard within the given time, the High Court should decide Sengar’s plea seeking suspension of sentence before the summer vacation begins.

The Supreme Court clarified that it had not expressed any opinion on the merits of the case and allowed the High Court to reconsider the matter independently.

The bench also asked the High Court to examine whether an MLA can be considered a “public servant” under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had stayed the Delhi High Court’s December 2025 order that suspended Sengar’s life sentence. The top court had directed that he should remain in custody.

The Delhi High Court had granted relief to Sengar after observing that an elected representative may not fall within the definition of “public servant” under Section 21 of the Indian Penal Code in relation to provisions under the POCSO Act.

Sengar was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in the Unnao rape case, which triggered nationwide outrage and protests demanding justice for the survivor.

The High Court’s earlier decision to suspend his sentence had also drawn sharp criticism from activists, the victim’s family and several civil society groups.