Delhi HC refuses to suspend Kuldeep Sengar’s sentence in death of Unnao rape survivor’s father
The decision by Justice Ravinder Dudeja comes a few weeks after a division bench of the Delhi HC had suspended Sengar’s sentence of life imprisonment for the rape of the Unnao survivor.
The Delhi High Court Monday refused to suspend the sentence of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar who has been awarded 10 years’ imprisonment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder in the case of death of Unnao rape survivor’s father.
The decision by Justice Ravinder Dudeja comes a few weeks after a division bench of the Delhi HC had suspended Sengar’s sentence of life imprisonment for the rape of the Unnao survivor. The HC’s decision was subsequently stayed by the Supreme Court.
Justice Dudeja, while rejecting Sengar’s plea to suspend the sentence, reasoned, “Having been convicted, the presumption of innocence is no more available… No exceptional or compelling circumstance has been brought to the fore that would warrant suspension of sentence at this stage. The argument that the appellant has undergone approximately 7.5 years of total imprisonment of 10 years RI (rigorous imprisonment) awarded to him also does not advance his case. The period undergone is relevant but not determinative. When weighed against the gravity of the crime, the threat perception, the appellant’s (Sengar’s) antecedents, and the nature of the Trial Court’s findings, this factor alone cannot warrant suspension.” The Delhi HC, in June 2024, had refused to suspend Sengar’s sentence pending final decision on the appeal; Justice Dudeja took this into account while also noting that there has been no change in circumstances since then to warrant the court to examine his case for suspending the sentence a second time.
“It is also noteworthy that the appellant has criminal antecedents inasmuch as he been convicted in a connected case for the rape of a minor and sentenced to undergo life imprisonment. The existence of such serious antecedents is a significant consideration and militates strongly against suspension,” Justice Dudeja recorded.
Sengar has two appeals pending before the Delhi HC: One appeal filed in 2019 against his conviction sentencing him to life imprisonment for rape of a minor in December 2019, and another appeal against his conviction in March 2020, sentencing him to 10 years’ imprisonment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder for the death of the minor’s father in judicial custody. After the Delhi HC had suspended the life sentence, on the ground that Sengar cannot be termed to have been a public servant, the CBI appealed against it at the top court. The SC then stayed the Delhi HC order.
Sohini Ghosh is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express. Previously based in Ahmedabad covering Gujarat, she recently moved to the New Delhi bureau, where she primarily covers legal developments at the Delhi High Court
Professional Profile
Background: An alumna of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), she previously worked with ET NOW before joining The Indian Express.
Core Beats: Her reporting is currently centered on the Delhi High Court, with a focus on high-profile constitutional disputes, disputes over intellectual property, criminal and civil cases, issues of human rights and regulatory law (especially in the areas of technology and healthcare).
Earlier Specialty: In Gujarat, she was known for her rigorous coverage in the beats of crime, law and policy, and social justice issues, including the 2002 riot cases, 2008 serial bomb blast case, 2016 flogging of Dalits in Una, among others.
She has extensively covered health in the state, including being part of the team that revealed the segregation of wards at the state’s largest government hospital on lines of faith in April 2020.
With Ahmedabad being a UNESCO heritage city, she has widely covered urban development and heritage issues, including the redevelopment of the Sabarmati Ashram
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Her recent reporting from the Delhi High Court covers major political, constitutional, corporate, and public-interest legal battles:
High-Profile Case Coverage
She has extensively covered the various legal battles - including for compensation under the aegis of North East Delhi Riots Claims Commission - pertaining to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots, as well as 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
She has also led coverage at the intersection of technology and governance, and its impact on the citizenry, from, and beyond courtrooms — such as the government’s stakeholder consultations for framing AI-Deepfake policy.
Signature Style
Sohini is recognized for her sustained reporting from courtrooms and beyond. She specialises in breaking down dense legal arguments to make legalese accessible for readers. Her transition from Gujarat to Delhi has seen her expand her coverage on regulatory, corporate and intellectual property law, while maintaining a strong commitment to human rights and lacuna in the criminal justice system.
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