"I Still Believe In Justice": Unnao Rape Case Victim Appeals To SC, Seeks Protection From UP CM

New Delhi: The victim of the 2017 Unnao rape case has once again put her faith in the Supreme Court. On Sunday, she said that she expects the apex court to deliver justice as her long legal battle enters a fresh phase.

Why is she turning to the Supreme Court now?

The Delhi High Court last week suspended the life sentence of former Uttar Pradesh MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, the main accused in the case, and granted him conditional bail while his appeal against conviction is pending. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging that order. The top court is scheduled to hear the CBI's plea on December 29.

The rape victim said she believes the Supreme Court will look closely at the facts and restore faith in justice for her and others.

"I have faith in the Supreme Court that it will give me justice,” she said to ANI, adding that she speaks for women across the country.

What are her safety fears?

Her appeal for protection is blunt and personal. The victim said her children were "unsafe at home" after the High Court’s decision. She described the toll on her family over the years, including the loss of loved ones and job setbacks and and urged Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to ensure her safety so she can fight her case “fearlessly.”

"Kuldeep Sengar has bribed (Delhi HC) judge and CBI Investigating Officer. My husband's job was snatched away, my children and witnesses are under threat. Protection must be provided to those who we name in front of the CBI. I request CM Yogi Adityanath to protect me in a way that I am able to fight my battle fearlessly," the rape victim said.

How are people responding on the streets?

In Delhi and elsewhere, activists and supporters rallied behind the victim's call for justice. Members of women's groups held protests demanding the High Court’s order be overturned and better protection for the survivor and her family.

Who is Kuldeep Sengar and what was he convicted for?

Sengar was convicted for kidnapping and raping a minor girl in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao district in June 2017. He was convicted in December 2019 in connection with the rape of a minor girl, a case that drew national attention for its brutality and political aftershocks. He was sentenced to life imprisonment by a Delhi court following trial proceedings that began after the Supreme Court moved the case from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi.

What conditions did the court impose?

The bench, led by Justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar, ordered Sengar's release after he furnished a personal bond of Rs 15 lakh with three sureties of the same amount. He must also stay at least 5 kilometres away from the victim's home and must not threaten or contact her or her mother. The court warned that any breach of these terms could lead to immediate cancellation of his bail.