The Supreme Court of India is set to hear an urgent petition by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today, Monday, December 29, 2025, challenging the Delhi High Court’s recent order that suspended the life sentence of expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar.
A three-judge vacation bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice JK Maheshwari, and Justice Augustine George Masih will preside over the matter. The CBI’s appeal argues that the High Court “erred” in granting relief to a convict in such a heinous crime involving a minor and a series of subsequent tragedies.2
The Survivor’s Plea: “Faith in the Top Court”
Ahead of the hearing, the Unnao survivor spoke out, expressing fear for her family’s safety after Sengar was granted bail on December 23.
- The Quote: “I have faith in the Supreme Court that it will give me justice… My father was killed. My family members were killed. My husband was fired from his job. My children are unsafe at home,” she told ANI.
- Security Concerns: The survivor noted that the security previously provided to witnesses and her family has been significantly reduced, leaving them vulnerable.3
Timeline of a Tragedy: The Unnao Case
The case has been marked by extreme violence and systemic delays since it first came to light in 2017.
| Date | Event |
| June 2017 | The minor victim is raped by Kuldeep Singh Sengar at his Unnao residence. |
| April 2018 | Survivor attempts self-immolation outside the UP CM’s house; her father dies in judicial custody days later. |
| July 2019 | A truck rams into the survivor’s car; two aunts are killed. SC transfers the case to Delhi. |
| Dec 2019 | Delhi Court sentences Sengar to Life Imprisonment for rape and 10 years for custodial death. |
| Dec 23, 2025 | Delhi HC suspends life sentence, citing Sengar has already served 7 years and 5 months. |
Why Sengar is Still Behind Bars
While the Delhi High Court suspended his life sentence in the rape case, Sengar will not be released immediately.4
- Dual Convictions: Sengar is concurrently serving a 10-year rigorous imprisonment for the custodial death of the survivor’s father.5
- Pending Bail: Since he has not been granted bail or a sentence suspension in the custodial death case, he remains at Tihar Jail pending the outcome of today’s Supreme Court proceedings.
Protests Erupt at Jantar Mantar
On Sunday, hundreds of women’s rights activists and members of the Inqilab Mancha platform gathered at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Protesters demanded the immediate cancellation of Sengar’s bail, calling the High Court’s decision a “blow to the Nirbhaya spirit” and a “mockery of the POCSO Act.”