Unnao Rape: Victim’s Father and Two Aunts Killed – Timeline of Kuldeep Singh Sengar’s Crimes

Delhi: Women activists and the mother of the Unnao rape survivor staged a protest outside the Delhi High Court on Friday following the suspension of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar’s life sentence, which had been granted earlier this week pending his appeal. The High Court ruled that the aggravated POCSO charge did not apply in this case, as Sengar was not a public servant at the time of the 2017 assault on the 17-year-old girl. As a result, the minimum sentence was reduced to seven years, which Sengar has already served. Sengar was granted bail under strict conditions, including a ₹15 lakh surety and a requirement to stay at least 5 km away from the survivor’s residence. The survivor’s family, still reeling from past tragedies—including the custodial death of her father and other attacks on relatives—vowed to challenge the High Court order in the Supreme Court, citing concerns for the survivor’s safety. Case Background: Victim was a 17-year-old minor in 2017. Police initially refused to register FIR due to Sengar’s influence. The survivor attempted self-immolation outside the UP CM’s residence in April 2018. Her father was assaulted by Sengar’s brother and aides, then arrested on allegedly fabricated Arms Act charges. Her father died in judicial custody on April 9, 2018. Multiple attempts were made to silence the survivor. A 2019 truck crash killed two aunts accompanying her. The CBI took over the investigation, and charges were filed under IPC and POCSO Act. Sengar was convicted in December 2019, sentenced to life imprisonment for rape, and also convicted in a connected case for the father’s death. Following his conviction, he was disqualified as an MLA. Activists and the family have expressed outrage at the court’s decision, emphasizing that justice must be upheld for survivors of sexual violence, especially in cases involving influential perpetrators.