Unnao Rape Case: The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Delhi High Court's order of suspending the life sentence of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the Unnao rape case. Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant emphasised that Sengar's life sentence could not be suspended as he is also convicted for a separate offence. The apex court has also issued notice and directed to file the counter-affidavits withing four weeks. While arguing for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stated that the convict is a powerful person, adding that the victim's family has been affected after the High Court's verdict.

CJI Surya Kant stayed the High Court's order by stating that Sengar has also been convicted in a separate offence. “…In view of peculiar facts where convict is convicted for a separate offence, we stay operation of Delhi High Court order dated December 23, 2025. Thus respondent (Sengar) shall not be released pursuant to the said order," CJI Surya Kant stated.

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SG Mehta stated that the High Court had not considered several key factors while providing bail to the convict, adding that the victim's family was deeply affected by the order. SG Mehta also reminded the apex court that Sengar was also held guilty of murdering the victim's father.

"Please see Section 42A of POCSO Act, which shows when there is divergence between this law and any other law. High Court did not deal with this. This convict was held guilty of murdering the father of the party. He is still in jail for that. I urge the conscience of this Court to stay this order for the sake of the child who was a victim of this," SG Mehta was quoted as saying by the Bar and Bench.

“If a person is in a dominant position, it is considered an aggravated assault. In this case, he was a very powerful MLA of that area," he added. 

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The CBI has stated that anyone holding a constitutional post must be deemed a public servant. The agency further stated that the High Court declared that Sengar, an MLA at the time when the offence was committed, was not a public servant.