New Delhi, December 24, 2025: The Delhi High Court’s decision on December 23 to suspend the life sentence of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case and grant him conditional bail has triggered widespread public outrage. The controversy escalated further on Tuesday when the rape survivor staged an emotional protest at India Gate, demanding justice and safety for her family.
The protest was joined by the survivor’s mother and prominent women’s rights activist Yogita Bhayana. However, the peaceful demonstration soon turned tense after Delhi Police intervened and removed the protesters from the site, leading to sharp criticism from activists and opposition leaders.
The survivor, now in her mid-20s, sat on the lawns of India Gate expressing deep anguish over the court’s decision. Speaking to reporters, she said the order had left her family feeling unsafe and abandoned by the system. She alleged that the timing of the bail was politically motivated, claiming it was meant to facilitate Sengar’s wife contesting the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in 2027. “Injustice has been done to us. Elections are approaching, and he has been released so that his family can benefit politically,” she said.
Her sister echoed similar concerns, stating that the family feared for their safety and felt more secure under state protection. The family has repeatedly sought enhanced security, citing past threats and harassment linked to the case.
As the protest gathered attention, police personnel arrived at the scene and physically carried the survivor, her mother, and Yogita Bhayana to a bus, briefly detaining them. Videos from the site showed the women pleading to continue their protest while being removed, sparking outrage over the alleged use of force. Bhayana strongly condemned both the bail order and the police action, questioning why security cover for the survivor, her family members, lawyers, and witnesses had reportedly been withdrawn.
The High Court bench comprising Justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar suspended Sengar’s sentence pending the hearing of his appeal, noting that he had already served more than seven years in prison. The bail conditions include furnishing a ₹15-lakh bond, surrendering his passport, remaining in Delhi, reporting weekly to the police, and maintaining a minimum distance of five kilometers from the survivor.
The 2017 Unnao rape case had shocked the nation. Sengar, then a powerful BJP MLA, was accused of raping a minor who had approached him seeking employment. The case gained national attention after the survivor’s father died in police custody following alleged assaults by Sengar’s associates. The Supreme Court later intervened, transferring the trial to Delhi to ensure a fair hearing. In 2019, Sengar was convicted under sections of the IPC and the POCSO Act and sentenced to life imprisonment.
The survivor has announced her intention to challenge the High Court’s bail order in the Supreme Court once it reopens. Several opposition leaders, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, criticized the decision, calling it “shameful” and condemning the police treatment of the survivor, which he said reflected a failure to protect victims of sexual violence.
Women’s rights groups and civil society organizations have also expressed concern, calling the development a serious setback in the fight for justice and survivor protection, especially in cases involving influential political figures.
The episode has reopened painful memories associated with one of India’s most disturbing sexual assault cases, once again highlighting the ongoing struggle for accountability, survivor safety, and faith in the justice system.
Report: Farhan Siddiqui.
