• Source:JND

Unnao Rape Case Protest: A massive protest was organised on Friday outside the Delhi High Court against its order suspending the sentence of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who was convicted to a life sentence in 2017 for raping a minor in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao. Hundreds of women gathered outside the Delhi High Court, demanding the withdrawal of the order suspending his sentence. 

The All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), the women’s wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), also joined the protest today. Present at the protest site, women's rights activist Yogita Bhayana said, "Today we have come to the High Court peacefully so that the injustice done to our daughter is reversed, and our petition is heard. If we don't get justice, we will protest; it is our right."

A massive controversy began after the Delhi High Court granted bail to Kuldeep Singh Sengar on December 23. The HC directed Sengar to furnish a personal bond of Rs 15 lakh with three sureties of the like amount. It also directed him not to come within a 5-km radius of the survivor's residence in Delhi and not to threaten her or her mother. 

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Since then, massive protests have been organised in several parts of the country, including Delhi. Earlier this week, the Unnao rape survivor, along with her mother, staged a protest at India Gate in Delhi. However, they were mishandled by the police. A video showed police personnel dragging and pushing the survivor to remove them from the protest site. 

"Sengar's bail should be cancelled. We will approach the Supreme Court. We have lost faith in the High Court. If we don't get justice in the Supreme Court, we will move to another country. The person who killed my husband should be hanged immediately," the survivor’s mother said, after police manhandling.

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Unnao Rape Case: Plea Filed In Supreme Court

Meanwhile, a petition has been filed in the Supreme Court, challenging the bail granted to Kuldeep Singh Sengar. The plea has been filed by two women lawyers, Anjale Patel and Pooja Shilpkar, seeking the setting aside of the Delhi High Court ruling that gave relief to the Sengar.

The Central Bureau of Investigation, which has been investigating the case, is also set to contest the Delhi High Court's ruling in the Unnao rape case by filing a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court. Following a thorough review of the Division Bench's decision, an official said, quoted by ANI, that the probe agency will move to the apex court as soon as possible.

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Unnao Rape Survivor Meets Rahul, Sonia Gandhi

The survivor of the Unnao Rape case, along with her mother, met the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, seeking their assistance in her fight against Sengar. The meeting took place at the 10 Janpath Road residence of Sonia Gandhi and lasted for over an hour. 

During the meeting, the family made three key requests for the Gandhi:

- A top lawyer to represent their case in the Supreme Court.
- A swift relocation to a Congress-ruled state for their own safety.
- A job for the woman's husband.

According to NDTV, citing sources, the Congress leader has agreed to help the survivor on all points. Hours later, Rahul Gandhi reposted a video on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, slamming the judgment of the Delhi HC and said, "Is such treatment of a gang rape survivor appropriate? Is it her 'fault' that she dares to raise her voice for justice? The fact that her perpetrator (former BJP MLA) has been granted bail is extremely disappointing and shameful, especially when the survivor is being repeatedly harassed and is living under the shadow of fear."


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