Overview
- The Supreme Court declined to suspend Kuldeep Singh Sengar’s 10-year sentence or grant bail in the custodial death of the Unnao survivor’s father, directing the Delhi High Court to decide his appeal within three months.
- Sengar’s appeal is listed in the High Court on February 11, with the top court asking for an out-of-turn, merits hearing rather than further interim relief.
- The High Court has been told to hear the survivor’s appeal seeking conversion of the conviction from Section 304 IPC to Section 302, and any co-accused appeals, alongside Sengar’s case.
- The bench noted Sengar is already serving a life term in the separate rape case, questioning suspension of the term sentence as his counsel’s claims on time served drew scrutiny and possible remission was flagged as debatable.
- Citing past delays partly linked to Sengar’s applications, the Delhi High Court had rejected sentence suspension on January 19, and the Supreme Court also cautioned the survivor’s counsel against giving media statements that risk a ‘media trial’.