2017 Unnao rape case victim meets Rahul Gandhi, seeks legal aid amid outrage over Sengar bail
"Put us in prison, at least we will be safe there," the survivor told mediapersons after the meeting with Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi.
Activist Yogita Bhayana stages a dharna with the family of the Unnao gang rape victim. (PTI Photo) A day after the Delhi High Court suspended the life sentence of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape of a minor, the survivor Wednesday met Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, seeking their assistance in her fight against Sengar.
It is learnt that the survivor and her family have requested aid of a top lawyer to fight against Sengar in the Supreme Court and to relocate to a Congress-ruled state as they feared for their lives.
While suspending the sentence of Sengar, the High Court ruled that his former status as an MLA does not bring him under the ambit of a ‘public servant’ as defined under the IPC. Sengar was sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2019 by a Delhi trial court after finding him guilty under Section 376 (2) (rape) of the IPC and Sections 5(c) & 6 of the POCSO Act for raping a minor. The case was probed and prosecuted by the CBI.
It is learnt that in the meeting with Rahul Gandhi, where Sonia Gandhi too was present, the survivor was given an assurance of her request for top legal aid and relocation to a Congress-ruled state. Sources said the survivor also sought a better job for her husband which, Rahul said, would be considered.
क्या एक गैंगरेप पीड़िता के साथ ऐसा व्यवहार उचित है?
क्या उसकी “गलती” ये है कि वो न्याय के लिए अपनी आवाज़ उठाने की हिम्मत कर रही है?
उसके अपराधी (पूर्व BJP MLA) को ज़मानत मिलना बेहद निराशाजनक और शर्मनाक है – खासकर तब, जब पीड़िता को बार-बार प्रताड़ित किया जा रहा हो, और वो डर के… https://t.co/BZqrVNXMOy
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 24, 2025
Hours after the verdict Tuesday, the survivor and her mother had protested outside India Gate but were removed by security personnel. Rahul also took to social media Wednesday, reposting a video of their removal from the site and stating, “The fact that her perpetrator (former BJP MLA) has been granted bail is extremely disappointing and shameful – especially when the survivor… is living under the shadow of fear… Bail for rapists and treating survivors like criminals – what kind of justice is this?”
The survivor’s sister, speaking to mediapersons, expressed disappointment with the verdict. “He had killed my uncle, my father…woh bahar toh aa gaye hai lekin hum logon ke upar khatra mandra raha hai, kya pata woh bahar aane ke baad mere poore parivar ko khatam kar de. Unko bahar nikal diya hai toh hum logon ko jail ke andar daal de, kam se kam humari jaan toh surakshit rahegi (He has been released but the threat hovers over us and our family. Who knows he will erase our entire family once he is out. If he is being let out, put us in prison, at least we will be safe there). My sister is grieving. If something happens to us, will the court take responsibility? If so, then it’s okay. We have small children, our brother. His men continue to threaten us.”
The suspension of Sengar’s sentence comes pending a final decision on the appeal against his life sentence.
Sengar, who is currently in jail, will not be out until a similar order suspending his sentence in the case of custodial killing of the minor’s father is issued by the Delhi High Court. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison for culpable homicide not amounting to murder in March 2020. He has an appeal pending before the Delhi High Court in this case as well.
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