A former Uttar Pradesh politician, Kuldeep Singh Sengar, gained widespread popularity for his crucial role in the Unnao rape incident that took place in 2017. Sengar, a member of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly as MLA for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in June 2017, was accused of kidnapping and raping a child in the Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh. The incident drew widespread public notice owing to its grave nature and allegations of improper police investigation because of politicisation.
The guilty verdict was pronounced by the Indian judiciary in December 2019, sentencing him to life imprisonment for the crimes. To ensure that he got a fair hearing, the case was relocated from the Uttar Pradesh State to Delhi by the Supreme Court of India.
In a case related to the murder of the victim’s father, who was killed in custody, he was handed a ten-year prison sentence.
The Delhi High Court left everyone astonished in December 2025 by giving him a chance to live freely under certain conditions and suspending his sentence concerning the rape crime because a major part of his sentence was over while his appeal was in progress. The conditions set by the court were that he was not supposed to be in or around the house of the victim and that there was a personal bond in praesepe.
The CBI has disputed the order given by the High Court by appealing to the Supreme Court, terming it illegal. The case has subjected matters related to politics, victims, and judiciality to intense discussions in India, as demonstrated by critics, politicians, and the family of the rape victim, who have expressed serious concerns about justice and security.
After his conviction, Sengar's life as a politician practically ended. He was expelled from the BJP in 2019 and remains to this day one of the most prominent criminal cases of a politician that has not ended yet.
In this Special Report, India Today Legal Correspondent Aneesha Mathur details the Supreme Court proceedings in the Unnao rape case. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, challenged the Delhi High Court's interpretation regarding Kuldeep Singh Sengar's sentencing. Mathur reports that the SG argued Sengar, as an MLA, held a 'dominant position' and should be treated as a public servant under the POCSO Act, warranting aggravated punishment. She notes the CBI's stance that the victim was under 16 years of age at the time of the 2017 incident. Mathur highlights the SG's argument that a 'lighter interpretation' by the High Court sends a 'wrong message' and creates an incongruous position where an MLA is not considered a public servant. The report underscores the CBI's push for the stricter definition of authority.
On this broadcast, India Today’s Legal Correspondent Aneesha Mathur details the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) urgent challenge in the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court’s decision to suspend Kuldeep Singh Sengar’s sentence in the Unnao rape case. The CBI terms the order ‘legally unsustainable,’ arguing that the High Court fundamentally erred in ruling that an MLA is not a ‘public servant’ under the POCSO Act. Mathur notes the agency’s reliance on the ‘Sita Soren case of 2024’ and the LK Advani judgment to assert that legislators indeed hold a position of trust and authority. Anchor Sonal Mehrotra Kapoor also highlights the victim’s distress, noting that Sengar’s release poses a ‘real risk’ to her safety. The report underscores the CBI’s stance that long incarceration cannot be a ground for relief in such heinous crimes.
On this news bulletin, reporter Nalini Sharma provides details on the Delhi High Court's decision to reject the plea of Kuldeep Singh Sengar for the suspension of his sentence. Sengar is currently serving a 10-year jail term related to the custodial death of the Unnao rape survivor's father. During the proceedings, Justice Ravinder Dudeja stated that 'there is no ground to grant this relief' to the former politician. The court's decision comes shortly after the Supreme Court stayed a previous order that had granted Sengar relief in the separate gang rape case. Although Sengar's lawyers attempted to file a fresh application to inform the court of recent Supreme Court developments, the High Court maintained its stance. The transcript highlights that while the High Court will eventually hear Sengar's appeal against his conviction, he will remain in custody for the duration of the sentence related to the conspiracy and custodial death charges.
The Delhi High Court is scheduled to pronounce its verdict today at 2:30 PM regarding the bail plea of former Unnao MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar. The plea pertains to the custodial death case of the Unnao rape victim's father, where Sengar is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence. During the proceedings, Sengar's counsel argued for a suspension of sentence, citing 'long incarceration' and medical grounds requiring treatment outside Tihar Jail. However, the CBI and the victim's family have strongly opposed the plea. Even if the court grants bail in this instance, Sengar will remain incarcerated as the Supreme Court recently stayed a previous High Court order that had suspended his life sentence in the primary rape case. The programme provides a comprehensive recap of the legal arguments and the current status of the multiple cases involving the former legislator.
In this episode of Post Mortem, the focus is on the Unnao rape case and the legal developments involving expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar. The programme traces the timeline from the 2017 crime and the custodial death of the survivor's father to the 2019 conviction.
The top focus of this episode of News Today is the death of Angel Chakma, a 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura, in Dehradun following an attack on December 9.
In this news report, the Supreme Court has stayed the Delhi High Court's order suspending the sentence of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the Unnao rape case. A vacation bench headed by Chief Justice Suryakant questioned the High Court's interpretation of the POCSO Act, specifically asking how a constable can be considered a public servant while an MLA is excluded. The report highlights the relief for the Unnao rape survivor, who stated her fight continues until the convict receives the death penalty. The Supreme Court also issued a notice to Sengar on the CBI's appeal.
This special report examines the death of Angel Chakma, a 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura who died following a brutal racist attack in Dehradun. The incident has ignited a national debate on hate crimes and the safety of people from Northeast India. The program features a panel discussion with Congress MP Pradyut Bardoloi, BJP National Spokesperson Sanju Varma, former IPS officer Dr. Kiran Bedi, and activist Dr. Alana Golmei, who discuss administrative accountability, preventive policing, and the need for stronger laws against racial slurs. The broadcast also details two major Supreme Court interventions. The top court stayed the bail granted by the Delhi High Court to former BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case. In a separate matter, the Supreme Court put its own previous order defining the Aravalli Hills in abeyance, ordering the formation of a new expert committee.
The top focus of this episode of To The Point is the rising cases of hate crimes in some states. Twenty-four-year-old Angel Chakma of Nandannagar in West Tripura district was attacked by a group of six people when he objected to a racial slur at Dehradun on December 9.
This special report covers the death of Angel Chakma, a 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura, following a racially motivated attack in Dehradun. On 'To The Point', anchor Maria Shakeel examines the December 9 assault where Angel and his brother Michael were targeted with racial slurs like 'Chinese' before Angel was fatally stabbed. The program addresses rising hate crimes with a panel including Congress MP Pradyut Bardoloi, BJP’s Sanju Verma, and former IPS officer Dr. Kiran Bedi, who suggests 'preventive policing'. Activist Dr. Alana Golmei demands the implementation of the Bezbaruah Committee recommendations to criminalize racial slurs. Angel's father, Tarun Prasad Chakma, calls for the death penalty for the attackers, while a friend recounted Angel's last words: "We are not Chinese... We are Indians." The broadcast also notes the Supreme Court's stay on an order that had suspended the life sentence of Unnao rape convict Kuldeep Singh Sengar.
Speaking exclusively to India Today, Sengar's daughter, Aishwarya Sengar, alleged that the survivor 'repeatedly changed statements' and that their family's 'dignity was stripped off' during the eight-year legal battle.
Reporting on a major legal development, India Today's Srishti Ojha details the Supreme Court's decision to stay the Delhi High Court order granting bail to Kuldeep Sengar. The top court observed 'peculiar facts and circumstances' in the Unnao rape case, noting that Sengar remains in custody for a separate conviction regarding the custodial death of the survivor's father. Ojha highlights that the Supreme Court has issued a notice to Sengar on the CBI's appeal, which challenges the High Court's interpretation that an MLA does not qualify as a 'public servant' under the POCSO Act. The reporter confirms that Sengar will not be released and has been given time to file his response, with the next hearing scheduled for January 20. This intervention ensures the life sentence remains effective pending further legal arguments.
The Supreme Court has stayed the Delhi High Court's order suspending the sentence of Unnao rape convict Kuldeep Singh Sengar. Reacting to the order, the victim's lawyer, Mehmood Pracha, stated, 'I am not calling this a victory. This is a small chance for the victim and her family to breathe.'
In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court has stayed the Delhi High Court's order regarding the suspension of the sentence in the Unnao rape case. During the hearing, arguments were raised about a 'media trial' and the circulation of photographs of High Court judges. Addressing these concerns, the Chief Justice of India remarked that the judiciary does not sit in 'ivory towers' and is aware of the proceedings, while emphasizing that legal arguments must be made within the court. The bench clarified that the doors of justice remain open 24/7 for appeals. The survivor's counsel also raised concerns about not being permitted to argue during the proceedings, to which the court noted the procedural requirement of filing a Special Leave Petition (SLP). The programme details the courtroom exchange and the apex court's observations on the conduct of parties involved.
The Supreme Court has stayed the Delhi High Court's order that suspended the sentence of a former MLA convicted in a custodial death case. Reporting on the proceedings, the network's legal correspondents detailed that the top court found substantial questions of law regarding the definition of a 'public servant' under the POCSO Act which require further consideration. The High Court had previously ruled that the convict did not fall under this definition, a stance the Supreme Court will now examine. An activist involved in the case welcomed the stay, terming it a victory for justice. The convict remains in custody while the legal interpretation is reviewed.
On this Special Report, the Supreme Court has stayed the Delhi High Court's order suspending the life sentence of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the Unnao rape case. The bench, led by CJI Surya Kant, questioned the High Court's interpretation that Sengar was not a 'public servant' under the POCSO Act. Reporters Nalini Sharma and Anisha Mathur explain that Sengar will remain in jail as he is also serving a 10-year sentence for the custodial death of the survivor's father. Advocate Hemant Kumar Maurya highlights the threats faced by the victim's family, stating, 'The family is being threatened by various criminal associates.' The programme explores the legal implications of the Supreme Court's intervention and the relief it brings to the survivor, who was present at the court. The stay ensures Sengar's continued incarceration while the legal battle over the definition of his role as a public servant continues.
Advocate Mehmood Pracha welcomes the Supreme Court's decision to stay the Delhi High Court's order that had suspended the life sentence of Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the Unnao rape case. Speaking on the verdict, Pracha criticizes the High Court for showing 'great mercy' to Sengar, whom he describes as a member of the 'Indian Epstein gang.' He highlights the immense threat still faced by the survivor, citing the past murders of her father, aunt, and lawyer. Pracha argues that the 'public servant' technicality used by the High Court was flawed and asserts that this development is a relief but not a 'victory' given the victim's tragic losses.
In this Special Report, India Today tracks the crucial Supreme Court hearing in the Unnao rape case. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, has challenged the Delhi High Court's decision to suspend the sentence of expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar. The reporter explains that the CBI is arguing that the definition of a 'public servant' should be interpreted broadly, especially when the victim is a minor. The Solicitor General stated, 'Mere enhancement of the sentence will not fall foul to Article 20,' emphasizing that the 2019 POCSO amendment reflects the legislature's intent to treat such offences with greater severity. The Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, also questioned whether the public servant status is irrelevant when the victim is a minor. The report highlights the legal debate over 'aggravated sexual assault' and the accountability of those in positions of authority.
In this special broadcast, India Today's Legal Editor Nalini Sharma and Associate Editor Anisha Mathur report on the Supreme Court hearing regarding the Unnao rape case. The CBI, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, has challenged the Delhi High Court's decision to suspend Kuldeep Singh Sengar's sentence. Appearing before a bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Mehta described the matter as a 'horrific case' involving a minor victim. The programme explores the legal arguments concerning the POCSO Act and the 'biological life' sentence.
