New Delhi, December 10: The Delhi High Court has granted interim suspension of the sentence of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar until December 20 on medical grounds. Sengar is currently serving a 10-year sentence for his involvement in the custodial death of the father of the Unnao rape victim.
Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri approved the suspension following Sengar’s plea for interim relief due to health concerns.
Medical Concerns and Legal Proceedings
Advocate Kanhaiya Singhal, representing Sengar, argued that his client suffers from diabetes, cataracts, retinal issues, and other ailments requiring urgent medical attention. The plea highlighted that Sengar was previously granted interim suspension of his sentence in the POCSO case for two weeks on similar medical grounds but could not be released due to his custodial death case sentence.
On December 5, a division bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma granted Sengar two weeks of interim bail for medical treatment in the POCSO case. The court directed his admission to AIIMS New Delhi for a thorough evaluation and treatment.
The court instructed the Medical Superintendent at AIIMS to oversee his care and provide a report on whether the necessary treatment could be completed at the hospital. Senior advocate N Hariharan also requested permission for Sengar to undergo treatment at Shankar Netralaya in Chennai for his retinal issues.
Concerns Raised by Victim’s Counsel
Advocate Mehmood Pracha, representing the rape survivor, opposed the bail plea, citing potential threats to the victim’s safety. He argued that previous medical reports did not indicate that AIIMS was incapable of handling Sengar’s treatment. He urged the court to consider the security of the victim, who is currently under protection.
Court’s Directives
The High Court laid down strict conditions for Sengar’s interim bail:
- He will remain admitted to AIIMS for at least 2-3 days for evaluation and treatment.
- Upon discharge, he must stay at a specified location within Delhi and remain in contact with the Investigating Officer.
- He is prohibited from leaving Delhi.
The court further instructed that a detailed medical evaluation and status report be submitted before the next hearing on December 20.
Background
Kuldeep Singh Sengar is serving a life sentence in the 2018 POCSO case, where he was convicted of raping a minor in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh. His involvement in the custodial death of the victim’s father further intensified scrutiny over his actions and legal proceedings.
The ongoing case underscores the complexities of ensuring justice while addressing medical and humanitarian considerations within India’s judicial system.
