Unnao rape case: Delhi HC grants 2 weeks interim bail to former BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar on medical grounds

Sengar, represented by senior advocate N Hariharan, had submitted that he has to get an MRI at G B Pant Hospital, undergo cataract surgery and a haemorrhoidectomy. Hariharan further submitted that Sengar wants to get his retinal detachment treated at Sankara Nethralaya in Chennai.

Noting that the “court cannot ignore all these medical conditions which the appellant is suffering from”, the bench directed that Sengar be released on interim bail for two weeks and seek admission at AIIMS, New Delhi on Friday.

Directing that the AIIMS medical superintendent enable his admission, the bench directed that a medical board should examine Sengar. It further directed the hospital to submit a report on the future course of action and also to opine if all his further treatments can be administered at the hospital itself.

The court also stipulated that Sengar be admitted to AIIMS for three to four days and be released following the advice of the doctors treating him. If released, the court directed that he remain in an identified location and not contact the Unnao rape survivor, who is currently in Delhi, or her family members.

Apart from furnishing Rs 50,000 as a personal bond and a surety of the same amount, the court also imposed the condition that Sengar should remain in touch with the concerned investigating officer and a local Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) official and not leave Delhi.

The court’s relief came even as the survivor-victim, represented by advocate Mehmood Pracha, and the CBI opposed Sengar’s plea.

The court has posted the matter for further hearing on December 20.

Sengar was convicted and sentenced to life for raping a minor girl in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao in 2017.   His appeal challenging the trial court’s verdict is pending in the high court. He has also been convicted and sentenced to 10 years in jail for his involvement in the death of the father of the Unnao rape victim. Sengar is seeking suspension of his sentence on grounds of his health condition.