Delhi High Court Suspends Life Sentence of Kuldeep Singh Sengar: What’s Next?

The Delhi High Court has suspended the life sentence of Kuldeep Singh Sengar, a former BJP leader convicted in the Unnao rape case. While his appeal is pending, the court has imposed strict conditions, including a personal bond and restrictions on his movements. This ruling raises questions about the implications for the ongoing legal proceedings and the safety of the victim. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 23, 2025, 18:45 IST

Court Decision on Kuldeep Singh Sengar

In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court has temporarily suspended the life sentence of Kuldeep Singh Sengar, a former BJP leader convicted in the 2017 Unnao rape case. This decision was made on Tuesday, with the court imposing several conditions on Sengar's release.

The bench, comprising Justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar, mandated that Sengar must provide a personal bond of ₹15 lakh along with three sureties of the same amount. Additionally, he is prohibited from approaching the victim's residence within a 5 km radius and is barred from threatening her or her mother.

The court emphasized that any breach of these conditions could result in the revocation of his bail. Sengar's sentence suspension will remain in effect while he appeals his conviction and sentence, which he is contesting following a trial court's ruling in December 2019.

During the hearing, the judges specified that the sureties must be residents of Delhi and instructed Sengar to reside in the capital throughout the appeal process. He is also required to deposit his passport with the trial court and report to the local police station every Monday at 10 AM.

The court has scheduled a hearing for Sengar's appeal on January 16, 2026, pending the chief justice's orders. Sengar was accused of kidnapping and raping a minor in 2017, and the case was transferred to Delhi from a trial court in Uttar Pradesh following a Supreme Court directive on August 1, 2019.

Moreover, Sengar is appealing against his conviction related to the custodial death of the survivor's father, where he received a 10-year sentence. He argues for the suspension of this sentence, citing the significant time he has already spent in prison.