News Analysis India

Tag: Unnao Rape Case

  • Unnao rape case: Delhi HC grants interim bail to Ex-BJP MLA to attend daughter’s marriage 

    By Express News Service

    The Delhi High Court on Monday granted interim bail to former Uttar Pradesh BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who is sentenced to life term imprisonment for raping a minor girl in Unnao in 2017, on his plea for attending his daughter’s marriage.

    A division bench comprising Justices Mukta Gupta and Poonam A. Bamba granted interim bail to Sengar for a period of 15 days – January 27 to February 10.

    During the hearing, the court had raised a concern, saying that Sengar’s daughter’s wedding ceremonies have been scheduled for so many days and whether everything can be completed in a few days.

    Counsel representing Sengar submitted before the court that he is the father and the ceremony dates are given by the priest.

    On December 19, Sengar approached the court seeking two months’ interim bail for attending his daughter’s wedding, which is scheduled on February 8, 2023, and ceremonies will start on January 18. As per the rape case involved by Sengar, the girl was kidnapped and raped by the BJP leader in 2017 when she was a minor.

    Sengar’s plea against the trial court’s order in the rape case is pending in the high court, with him having sought reliefs like quashing of the trial court’s December 16, 2019 judgment, which convicted him, and the December 20, 2019 order sentencing him to imprisonment till rest of his life.

    The trial court had convicted Sengar under various provisions, including Section 376 (2) (rape committed by a public servant) of IPC and also imposed an exemplary fine of Rs 25 lakh on him.

    The trial started on August 5, 2019, after the Supreme court on August 1 directed to transfer all five cases related to the matter from Unnao to Delhi.

    The top court had directed to hold a trial on a daily basis and complete it within 45 days.

    The Delhi High Court on Monday granted interim bail to former Uttar Pradesh BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who is sentenced to life term imprisonment for raping a minor girl in Unnao in 2017, on his plea for attending his daughter’s marriage.

    A division bench comprising Justices Mukta Gupta and Poonam A. Bamba granted interim bail to Sengar for a period of 15 days – January 27 to February 10.

    During the hearing, the court had raised a concern, saying that Sengar’s daughter’s wedding ceremonies have been scheduled for so many days and whether everything can be completed in a few days.

    Counsel representing Sengar submitted before the court that he is the father and the ceremony dates are given by the priest.

    On December 19, Sengar approached the court seeking two months’ interim bail for attending his daughter’s wedding, which is scheduled on February 8, 2023, and ceremonies will start on January 18.
     
    As per the rape case involved by Sengar, the girl was kidnapped and raped by the BJP leader in 2017 when she was a minor.

    Sengar’s plea against the trial court’s order in the rape case is pending in the high court, with him having sought reliefs like quashing of the trial court’s December 16, 2019 judgment, which convicted him, and the December 20, 2019 order sentencing him to imprisonment till rest of his life.

    The trial court had convicted Sengar under various provisions, including Section 376 (2) (rape committed by a public servant) of IPC and also imposed an exemplary fine of Rs 25 lakh on him.

    The trial started on August 5, 2019, after the Supreme court on August 1 directed to transfer all five cases related to the matter from Unnao to Delhi.

    The top court had directed to hold a trial on a daily basis and complete it within 45 days.

  • Unnao rape case: Delhi HC seeks CBI, victim’s response on Sengar’s bail plea

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court Thursday sought response of the CBI and the victim on a plea by expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar seeking bail in a case in which he was sentenced to life term for raping a minor girl in UP’s Unnao in 2017.

    A bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Rajnish Bhatnagar issued notice to the CBI and the victim on the bail plea and listed the matter for further hearing on May 25.

    The court also sought response of the CBI and the victim on another application by Sengar in which he sought production of additional evidence in support of his appeal challenging the trial court’s verdict in the case.

    His counsel contended that an affidavit filed by the victim would show that she was not a minor at the time of the offence. He further sought bail in the case saying he has been incarcerated for last four years.

    Sengar’s appeal challenging the trial court’s verdict is already pending in the high court. He has sought quashing of the December 16, 2019 judgement of the trial court which convicted him.

    He has also sought setting aside of the December 20, 2019 order sentencing him to imprisonment till remainder of his life.

    The trial court had convicted Sengar under various provisions including section 376 (2) of IPC which deals with the offence of rape committed by a public servant who “takes advantage of his official position and commits rape on a woman in his custody as such public servant or in the custody of a public servant subordinate to him”.

    It had awarded him the maximum punishment of life term with a rider that the convict will remain in jail for “remainder of his natural biological life” and also imposed an exemplary fine of Rs 25 lakh on him.

    The woman was kidnapped and raped by Sengar in 2017 when she was a minor. The trial, which started on August 5, 2019 after it was transferred from Unnao to Delhi on the Supreme Court’s directions, was carried on a day-to-day basis.

    The apex court, taking cognisance of the rape survivor’s letter written to the then Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, had on August 1, 2019 transferred all five cases registered in connection with the Unnao rape incident from a Lucknow court in Uttar Pradesh to the court in Delhi with directions to hold trial on a daily basis and completing it within 45 days.

  • ‘Society will not forgive you’: Former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar’s daughter to Priyanka Gandhi

    By PTI

    UNNOA: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was confronted by jailed former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar’s daughter over her decision to field Makhi rape victim’s mother from Unnao Sadar seat.

    Kuldeep Sengar was sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2019 for raping a girl in Makhi village and is currently in jail.

    In a list of candidates released on Thursday, Congress had named Asha Singh, the rape victim’s mother, as its candidate from Unnao assembly seat.

    In a video that went viral on social media on Saturday, Sengar’s daughter Aishwarya was seen objecting to the decision invoking “morality”.

    “Priyanka Gandhi ji, this political step taken by you may be sound, I do not know politics. But the religion of society and morality will never forgive you,” she allegedly said in the video.

    Aishwarya even claimed that Asha Singh, the proposed candidate, has a case registered against her for forging a transfer certificate and mark sheet.

    “More than dozen of cases are registered against your candidate’s family in this Unnao…Unnao will never accept politics which destroys a family. You will also see its result on March 10. The blessings of our Unnao were with me and always will be,” she said.

  • Court frames charges in 2019 accident case of Unnao rape survivor

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: A Delhi court framed charges on Tuesday against four people, including the truck driver, in the 2019 accident case of the Unnao rape survivor, in which former MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar and five others were discharged on Monday.

    Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Pandey put Ashish Kumar Pal, the truck driver, Vinod Mishra, Haripal Singh and Naveen Singh on trial as there were sufficient evidence against them.

    The court passed the order after the accused pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.

    “Accused Ashish Kumar Pal is directed to be charged for offence punishable under sections 304A (causing death by negligence), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 279 (rash driving on a public way) of the IPC and accused Vinod Mishra, Haripal Singh and Naveen Singh are directed to be separately charged for offence punishable under section 506(ii) (threat to cause death), read with section 34 (common intention) of the IPC,” the court said.

    According to the prosecution, the truck rammed into the vehicle in which the Unnao rape survivor was travelling to Rae Bareli with her two aunts and lawyer in July 2019.

    While her aunts succumbed to their injuries, the rape survivor and her lawyer were grievously injured.

    The court discharged Sengar, Komal Singh, Arun Singh, Gyanendra Singh, Rinku Singh and Awdesh Singh in the case on Monday, observing that prima facie, there was no evidence against them.

    In its order passed on Monday, the court noted that the chargesheet did not mention any record or evidence regarding a criminal conspiracy between the accused persons ordered to be put on trial with Sengar.

    It also noted that Sengar was in judicial custody during the period when threats were allegedly given to the rape survivor and her family members.

    The prosecution case was that the former MLA conspired with the other accused to issue threats to the rape survivor and her family members and he himself had not threatened them, the court said.

    On August 1, 2019, the Supreme Court transferred the case to Delhi from a trial court in Uttar Pradesh.

    On December 20, 2019, Sengar was sentenced to jail for the “remainder of his natural biological life” in a separate case for raping the minor in 2017.

    On March 4, 2020, Sengar, his brother and five others were also convicted for the death of the rape survivor’s father in judicial custody and were sentenced to 10 years in jail.

  • Unnao murders: Surviving minor girl’s condition improves, taken off ventilator

    Express News Service
    LUCKNOW: The condition of the only surviving minor girl among the three, who were found unconscious and tied in their farm at Baburaha village in Unnao on Wednesday night, improved considerably as she regained consciousness at a Kanpur hospital on Saturday. 

    The girl, 17, two siblings of whom succumbed to poisoning on the fateful night,  had been convalescing at a private hospital in Kanpur since Thursday after being referred from Unnao district hospital. 

    According to Kanpur SSP/DIG Preetinder Singh, the girl who was brought to Regency Hospital of Kanpur in a critical condition and was on life support since then. But she was taken off the ventilator on Saturday.  “The doctors have stated that the girl has been showing the signs of improvement, so she has been taken off the ventilator,” said the cop. 

    However, the hospital authorities said that it is still too early to record her statement. “She is under constant vigil of doctors and is being given essential medical aid,” said the SSP. 

    It may be recalled that the victim along with her two minor sisters was poisoned through water laced with insecticide. 

    “When called by her name, she responds and opens her eyes. When asked about her well being, she even nods her head. Once she fully shows signs of improvement, her statement will be recorded before a magistrate. Her family members were only allowed to see her from a distance in the ICU,” said inspector Kakadeo Kunj Bihari Mishra.

    Meanwhile, a heavy police force has been deployed at the hospital to ensure law and order. During the preliminary assessment, the girl was found to be in shock.

    “Taking it to be a suspected case of poisoning, she was immediately admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the paediatric ward,” the medical bulletin issued by the hospital stated. The victim was admitted to the hospital in an intubated condition and was on bag and tube ventilation. Later, she was shifted to the ICU and rigorous treatment was given to her, the medical bulletin further stated.

    On Saturday, the girl was put off the ventilator and has been going through spontaneous respiration, it added. The police had cracked the case on Friday by arresting two people in connection with the deaths of the two minor girls through poisoning.  

  • Unnao murders: Two held, UP cops suspect affair

    Express News Service
    LUCKNOW:  Two persons were arrested by Unnao police on Friday evening in connection with the poisoning of three minor Dalit girls in Baburaha village of the district on Wednesday. One of them, according to police, was in love with one of the girls but she spurned him. Two of the poisoned girls died on way to hospital while the third one is battling for life in a Kanpur hospital. 

    Accused Vinay held in connectionwith the death of two girls in Unnao.Making the announcements about the arrests before the media, Laksmi Singh, IG, Lucknow Range, said Vinay (25) and a 15-year-old boy of a village adjoining Baburaha were arrested on the basis of surveillance and a tip-off received from a police informer. The IG claimed Vinay had accepted to have committed the crime.

    IG Singh revealed that the accused was known to the girls. On the fateful day, while they were collecting fodder in the field, the duo approached them and offered snacks and water spiked with insecticide.Vinay revealed during his interrogation that he was frustrated as he had proposed to the girl on February 14 and had asked for her mobile number, but she refused to share it.

    On Wednesday, Vinay, accompanied by the teenager, allegedly came prepared with his plan to poison the girl who had rebuffed his professions of love. The IG said that as per Vinay’s confession, he offered the spiked water only to the girl he loved but other two also snatched it from him and had it as they were thirsty. All the three girls started frothing as soon as they drank the insecticide-laced water. 

    During the interrogation, the accused told the police that he came to know the girl during the lockdown while both worked in their fields, which were adjacent. Earlier in the day, the last rites of the girls were performed amid tight security in the presence of the family and police and district administration officials. The bodies were brought to their village after the autopsy on Thursday.

    The DM denied reports of any pressure being exerted on the family with regard to performing the last rites. Meanwhile, a team from Forensic Science Laboratory visited the village to collect more evidence. A team of nine officials recreated the crime scene at the spot and collected samples of froth from the girls’ clothes for chemical tests. 

  • Unnao murders: Two held, UP cops suspect affair

    Express News Service
    LUCKNOW:  Two persons were arrested by Unnao police on Friday evening in connection with the poisoning of three minor Dalit girls in Baburaha village of the district on Wednesday. One of them, according to police, was in love with one of the girls but she spurned him. Two of the poisoned girls died on way to hospital while the third one is battling for life in a Kanpur hospital. 

    Accused Vinay held in connectionwith the death of two girls in Unnao.Making the announcements about the arrests before the media, Laksmi Singh, IG, Lucknow Range, said Vinay (25) and a 15-year-old boy of a village adjoining Baburaha were arrested on the basis of surveillance and a tip-off received from a police informer. The IG claimed Vinay had accepted to have committed the crime.

    IG Singh revealed that the accused was known to the girls. On the fateful day, while they were collecting fodder in the field, the duo approached them and offered snacks and water spiked with insecticide.Vinay revealed during his interrogation that he was frustrated as he had proposed to the girl on February 14 and had asked for her mobile number, but she refused to share it.

    On Wednesday, Vinay, accompanied by the teenager, allegedly came prepared with his plan to poison the girl who had rebuffed his professions of love. The IG said that as per Vinay’s confession, he offered the spiked water only to the girl he loved but other two also snatched it from him and had it as they were thirsty. All the three girls started frothing as soon as they drank the insecticide-laced water. 

    During the interrogation, the accused told the police that he came to know the girl during the lockdown while both worked in their fields, which were adjacent. Earlier in the day, the last rites of the girls were performed amid tight security in the presence of the family and police and district administration officials. The bodies were brought to their village after the autopsy on Thursday.

    The DM denied reports of any pressure being exerted on the family with regard to performing the last rites. Meanwhile, a team from Forensic Science Laboratory visited the village to collect more evidence. A team of nine officials recreated the crime scene at the spot and collected samples of froth from the girls’ clothes for chemical tests.