The Delhi Court on 16 December, held the expelled BJP MLA- Kuldeep Singh Sengar, guilty of kidnap and rape of a minor girl in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh. The quantum of sentencing is scheduled in the hearing on 19 December.
The bench headed by Judge Dharmesh Sharma asserted the concern on part of CBI, for delayed filing of charge sheet in the case and said it prolonged the trial against Sengar and others. Further, the bench acquitted the co-accused Shashi Singh of all the charges giving a benefit of the doubt.
The expelled MLA, raped a 17-year-old minor girl on 4 June 2017 in Unnao, when the girl approached him seeking assistance for employment. On 28 July 2019, the victim’s car was rammed by a truck while on their way to Rae Bareli jail, leading to the death of two of the victim’s aunts. The court asserted that it was an alleged assassination attempt which was managed by Kuldeep Sengar while he was behind bars.
Subsequently, the victim was burnt alive on 5 December while she was on her way to Rai Bareli to testify against the criminals in a local court. She later succumbed to her injuries on 6 December.
Senger was arrested on 13 April 2018 following the order of the Allahabad High Court. On 9 August, the court framed charges against the Singh under Sections 120 b (criminal conspiracy), 363 (kidnapping), 366 (kidnapping or inducing a woman to compel for marriage), 376 (rape) and other relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The Delhi court judge on 16 December, praised the rape survivor for “fighting against a powerful person” and slammed the false cases imposed against her family.
