Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Dec 25: Two lawyers have approached the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court’s decision to suspend the jail sentence and grant bail to former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case.
Advocates Anjale Patel and Pooja Shilpkar, through Advocate-on-Record Sanjeev Malhotra, filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) after being aggrieved by the Delhi High Court’s December 23 order suspending Sengar’s life sentence and granting him bail.
In their plea, the petitioners urged the apex court to set aside the suspension of sentence and immediately cancel the bail, contending that the High Court order warrants judicial interference. The matter is expected to be listed as per the Supreme Court’s rules and procedures. Notably, the petitioners were not parties to the original case relating to Sengar’s conviction.
The Delhi High Court, in its December 23 order, had suspended Sengar’s sentence and granted bail subject to strict conditions. A bench comprising Justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar directed Sengar to furnish a personal bond of Rs 15 lakh along with three Delhi-based sureties of the same amount. He was also instructed to remain in Delhi, report to the police weekly, and deposit his passport.
Challenging the order, the petitioners argued that the High Court was unjustified in entertaining and allowing the application for suspension of sentence, especially when the trial court, after examining the entire evidence, had awarded life imprisonment and directed that Sengar remain incarcerated for the rest of his natural life.
“The trial court’s findings clearly reflect the gravity and heinous nature of the offence. Granting such relief without adequately appreciating these observations undermines the seriousness of the crime,” the plea stated.
The lawyers further contended that Supreme Court intervention is necessary to uphold the sanctity of the criminal justice system and maintain public confidence in the administration of justice. The SLP has been filed under Article 136 of the Constitution of India, seeking the apex court’s interference in the interest of complete justice.