Women stage a protest demanding justice for the Unnao gang rape victim outside Delhi High Court, in New Delhi on Friday.
| Photo Credit: ANI
The Supreme Court on Monday (December 29, 2025) stayed the Delhi High Court order suspending life sentence of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case.
The Bench, comprising of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Augustine George, also ordered legal aid for the survivor.
Observing that there was ambiguity on the definition of ‘public servant’ under the POCSO. A patwari or police constable could be convicted under section 6 of the POCSO, but an MLA would not be considered a public servant, the Bench observed.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, argued that Sengar was in a position of dominance and found guilty under POCSO and of killing the victim’s father.
On December 23, the Delhi High Court suspended the jail term of Sengar, who was serving a life sentence in the 2017 Unnao rape case, saying he had already served seven years and five months in prison. Sengar had challenged the December 2019 trial court verdict in the case.
Published – December 29, 2025 12:39 pm IST
