The Supreme Court of India on Friday set aside a Delhi High Court order that had suspended the life sentence of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, ensuring the convict remains in custody for his role in the Unnao rape case.
The ruling comes as a significant victory for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which had moved the apex court to challenge the High Court’s decision to grant Sengar bail. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi presided over the matter, emphasizing that the case involves “various substantial questions of law” that require deeper consideration.
The legal battle intensified in late 2025. On December 23, the Delhi High Court had ordered the suspension of Sengar’s sentence, effectively paving the way for his release. However, that move was short-lived. By December 29, 2025, the Supreme Court stepped in to stay the High Court’s order, citing the “peculiar circumstances” of the high-profile case.
During today’s proceedings, the bench reiterated that while the court is generally cautious about staying bail orders once a lower court has granted them, the complexities of this specific case warranted an exception.
“We find that there are various substantial questions of law which arise for consideration,” the bench had previously noted. “Consequently, the respondent shall not be released from custody.”
Kuldeep Singh Sengar, once a powerful legislator, was convicted for the 2017 rape of a minor in Unnao. The case drew national outrage and led to his expulsion from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). His life sentence was handed down as part of a rigorous judicial process that sought to provide justice to the survivor after years of legal and personal hurdles.
