The Supreme Court of India, on Tuesday, upheld the continuation of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) security for the Unnao rape survivor, citing ongoing perceptions of threat to her safety. However, the court has decided to withdraw the CRPF security cover previously extended to her family members and other witnesses, following the conviction in the case.
The bench, consisting of Justices Bela M. Trivedi and P.B. Varale, ruled that while the immediate threat necessitating protection had diminished due to the conviction of the accused, the survivor herself would still require CRPF security. “Protection granted by this court to the concerned persons at the relevant time may not be continued as the case has resulted in conviction who is awarded life imprisonment. However, we make it clear that the CRPF cover for the victim shall continue till further orders of this court,” the justices noted.
During the proceedings, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati highlighted the conviction of the accused, expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who is serving a life sentence for raping the minor girl in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, back in 2017. The government had sought the court’s permission to reassess the security measures provided following a 2019 directive that mandated CRPF protection for the survivor, her family, and their lawyer.
The family members and other witnesses affected by this decision have been advised that they can approach local police should they feel any threat persists.
The case, which drew widespread attention due to its grievous nature and the involvement of a political figure, led to significant judicial actions, including the transfer of all related cases from Lucknow to Delhi. The Supreme Court had also mandated a special court to expedite the trial, which resulted in daily hearings and a verdict within 45 days, alongside an order for the Uttar Pradesh government to pay Rs 25 lakh as interim compensation to the survivor.
Sengar’s legal battles continue as he has appealed against the December 2019 trial court verdict sentencing him to life imprisonment. Additionally, in a related case concerning the custodial death of the survivor’s father, Sengar was sentenced in March 2020 to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. The trial court found him guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, as it ruled there was no intention to kill.
