Unnao Rape Survivor to Challenge Sengar Bail in Supreme Court

​The long and painful battle for justice in the Unnao rape case has taken a distressing turn this week. For the survivor who has spent years fighting one of the most powerful political figures in Uttar Pradesh, the recent news from the Delhi High Court felt like a crushing blow. On December 24, 2025, the survivor announced her decision to move the Supreme Court of India. This comes after the High Court suspended the life sentence of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar and granted him bail. For the survivor and her family, this is not just a legal setback; they have described the decision as a shadow of death hanging over their lives.

​A Dark Day at Mandi House

​The streets of Delhi saw a poignant scene on Wednesday as the survivor and her mother took their fight to the public square. They staged a protest near Mandi House, a prominent cultural hub in the capital, to voice their absolute rejection of the court’s order. Carrying their pain and their demands for safety, they stood in the cold to remind the world that for them, the case is far from over.

​The protest was not without its own trauma. Reports emerged that the mother and daughter were allegedly manhandled by paramilitary personnel during the demonstration. These images of a survivor of such a horrific crime being physically stopped from protesting have sparked outrage across social media and the political spectrum. It highlights the immense pressure and vulnerability that victims of high-profile crimes continue to face in the country.

​Understanding the High Court Verdict

​The Delhi High Court’s decision to grant bail to Kuldeep Sengar was based on specific legal grounds, but it has been met with deep skepticism by the survivor's legal team. The bench of Justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar observed that Sengar had already spent over seven years in prison. The court stated that continued incarceration during the long pendency of an appeal could violate constitutional rights under Article 21.

​Most notably, the court remarked that a convict cannot be kept in jail indefinitely based solely on the "threat perception" of the victim. The judges argued that denying bail because of fears for the survivor's safety would be an admission of failure by the state's security agencies. While the court imposed strict conditions—such as barring Sengar from coming within five kilometers of the survivor's home and requiring him to report to the police weekly—these "paper protections" provide little comfort to a family that has already survived a fatal car "accident" and the custodial death of a father.

​Why the Survivor Fears for Her Life

​The survivor's reaction to the bail order was immediate and visceral. She described the verdict as "kaal," a Hindi word meaning death or a period of great doom. Her fears are rooted in a history of violence that few can imagine. Since she first accused Sengar in 2017, her life has been a series of tragedies. Her father died in police custody after being beaten by Sengar's associates. Later, a truck rammed into her car, killing two of her aunts and leaving her and her lawyer in critical condition.

​In her recent statements, the survivor pointed out a chilling detail: the security cover previously provided to her family members, witnesses, and lawyers has reportedly been withdrawn or reduced recently. With the man she calls her tormentor now legally allowed to leave his cell for the first time in years, she feels more exposed than ever. Her plea is simple: if powerful convicts are granted bail in such sensitive cases, what message does it send to every other girl in India who dreams of seeking justice?

​The Road to the Supreme Court

​Moving the Supreme Court is now the only path left for the survivor to ensure the life sentence remains in force. Her legal team is expected to argue that the High Court overlooked the unique and extreme level of threat in this specific case. They will likely contend that the "balance of convenience" should favor the safety of the victim and the integrity of the witnesses over the liberty of a convicted rapist whose appeal is still being processed.

​The survivor has called for an urgent hearing, citing the extraordinary circumstances of her case. For her, this is not just about one man staying behind bars; it is a test of the Indian judiciary's commitment to protecting the vulnerable against the influential. She has often said that in this country, those with money and power seem to win, while those without them are left to lose. By taking her case to the highest court in the land, she is challenging that very notion.

​A Political and Social Storm

​The news of Sengar's bail has not remained confined to the courtroom. It has ignited a fresh political debate about the safety of women and the influence of "bahubalis" or strongmen in politics. Prominent leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, have met with the survivor to express their support. Gandhi remarked that the treatment of the survivor and the granting of bail to Sengar suggests that the society is losing its moral compass.

​The timing of the bail has also been questioned by the survivor herself. With elections on the horizon in Uttar Pradesh, there are concerns that the release of an influential leader like Sengar could impact the local political landscape. While the court maintains its decision is purely legal, the survivor believes the "system" is slowly tilting back in favor of the man who once held absolute power in Unnao.

​The Father’s Custodial Death Case

​It is important to note that while Sengar has been granted bail in the rape case, he will not walk free immediately. He is also serving a ten-year sentence for his role in the custodial death of the survivor's father. As of now, he has not been granted bail in that specific matter. However, the survivor knows that this is only a temporary wall. If one sentence can be suspended, she fears the other might soon follow.

​Her struggle at Mandi House and her upcoming petition in the Supreme Court are preemptive strikes against a future where she might have to look over her shoulder every day. She is fighting to ensure that the "life imprisonment" handed down in 2019 actually means life.

​The Human Side of the Struggle

​At the heart of this legal battle is a young woman who has had her youth stolen by courts, hospitals, and police stations. She was a minor when the crime occurred. Since then, she has lived under constant guard, moved between safe houses, and buried her closest relatives.

​Her decision to protest and move the Supreme Court shows a level of courage that is both inspiring and heartbreaking. No citizen should have to beg the state to keep their convicted attacker in jail. Her journey serves as a reminder that for many survivors in India, "justice" is not a destination they reach, but a mountain they must climb every single day, often with no end in sight.