The Delhi High Court on Monday refused to suspend the 10-year jail term of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the custodial death case of the Unnao rape survivor's father.
The judge observed that although Sengar has suffered a long incarceration, relief could not be given on the grounds of delay in deciding his appeal against conviction. The said delay was partly because he filed multiple applications in the matter, the High Court reportedly observed.
"The application seeking suspension of sentence is dismissed... The court is conscious that the appellant has suffered long incarceration of 7.5 years and the appeal could not be heard... but reasons for such delay in hearing the appeal partly were that the appellant filed multiple applications for interim suspension, extension of bail and regular suspension of sentence. Purpose would be served if the appeal were heard on merit in an expeditious manner," said Justice Ravinder Dudeja.
The court listed the appeal for hearing on February 3.
"In the facts and circumstances and after considering the statutory framework, the judicial principles governing suspension, the antecedents of the appellant and the absence of any new circumstance that has emerged, the court finds no ground to grant relief," the Justice further said as per PTI.
On March 13, 2020, Sengar was sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment by a trial court, besides imposition of a fine of Rs 10 lakh, in the case.
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The trial court had said "no leniency" could be shown for killing a family's "sole bread earner". It had also awarded a 10-year jail term to Sengar's brother, Atul Singh Sengar, and five others for their role in the custodial killing of the rape survivor's father.
The father was arrested at the behest of Sengar under the Arms Act and died in custody on April 9, 2018, owing to police brutalities. Sengar had kidnapped the minor and raped her in 2017.
Sengar's appeals in the main rape case against the December 2019 judgement convicting him and sentencing him to imprisonment for the remainder of his life, as well as the father's case, are pending in the high court.
His sentence was suspended by the high court on December 23, 2025, till the pendency of his appeal challenging his conviction and sentence in the rape case. The suspension was stayed by the Supreme Court on December 29, 2025.