New Delhi [India], December 29 : Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai welcomed the Supreme Court's order putting a stay on the Delhi High Court's decision, which suspended the life sentence of expelled Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case.
Taking a veiled jibe at the BJP government in UP, Ajay Rai said that Sengar received a relief from the High Court due to "poor advocacy".
"I thank the Supreme Court. And this sent a message across the country that Kuldeep Sengar had received relief due to poor advocacy, but today the Supreme Court has put a stay on it," the Congress leader said.
The Supreme Court on Monday ordered a stay on the Delhi High Court's order allowing suspension of 2017 Unnao rape convict Kuldeep Sengar's life sentence and granting him bail.
Supreme Court's three-judge vacation bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant heard the Crime Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) plea challenging the Delhi High Court's decision. The apex court stayed the HC's order, noting that ex-Uttar Pradesh MLA Sengar is inside the jail for another case.
Women's activist Yogita Bhayana also welcomed SC's decision, saying it sends a message of justice to women across the nation.
Bhayana told ANI," Satyamev Jayate. We were hoping for this order. We thank the Supreme Court and all the media for this. The Supreme Court has been sensitive towards this case. This was the very basic of justice. It will send a message to the country's daughters that if they face injustice, they will get justice."
The Supreme Court said that Sengar shall not be released from jail.
A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) and Justices JK Maheshwari and AG Masih also issued notice to Sengar seeking his response to CBI's plea within two weeks.
"We are informed that the convict is also convicted and sentenced under Section 304 (murder) of the IPC and that he is still in custody in that case. Considering such peculiar circumstances in the case, we stay the operation of the impugned order passed by the High Court. The Respondent (Sengar) shall not be released," the CJI noted.
Hemant Kumar Maurya, an advocate from the survivor's side, said, "I would like to thank the Supreme Court today. The victim also wants to express her gratitude. The Supreme Court has issued a strong order to the lower courts stating that the accused will not be released from jail in any case, and the order granting relief has been stayed. The opposition has been given time to file a counter-affidavit, and until then, he will not be released from jail under any circumstances. This is the order of the Supreme Court, and there is a stay on the High Court's order."
Earlier, the Delhi High Court's December 23 order suspended Kuldeep Sengar's life sentence pending appeal and granted him bail.
Expelled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sengar was convicted in December 2019 in the Unnao rape case and sentenced to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 25 lakh. Though granted bail in this case, he continued to remain in jail as he is serving a 10-year sentence in another CBI case related to murder.