‘Till He Gets Death Penalty’: Unnao Rape Survivor Welcomes SC Order, Vows To Continue Legal Battle

New Delhi: A protester holds a placard during a demonstration against the suspension of the jail term of Kuldeep Sengar (Photo: PTI)

The Unnao rape case survivor on Monday asserted that her legal battle is far from over and said she would continue to fight until former BJP MLA and convict Kuldeep Singh Sengar is awarded the death penalty, following the Supreme Court’s decision to stay the Delhi High Court order granting him bail.

Reacting strongly to the top court’s intervention, the survivor told news agency IANS that she had unwavering faith in the Supreme Court and would pursue justice until its logical conclusion.

“I had faith in the Supreme Court that justice would be delivered. My struggle is ongoing and will continue. I have to pursue this until he gets the death penalty, and only then will my father and I get justice,” she said.

Expressing relief over the Supreme Court staying the suspension of Sengar’s life sentence, the survivor also acknowledged the support she received during her prolonged fight for justice.

“I am grateful to everyone who stood by me and helped me get justice,” she told IANS.

Reiterating her trust in the apex court, she said, “I have and will keep my faith in the Supreme Court that it will deliver justice. I don’t know what was going on in that judge’s mind, and only he knows how much affection he had for him to have shown mercy and granted him bail.”

Speaking further on the emotional toll the case has taken on her family, the survivor said justice would only be complete when the harshest punishment is awarded.

“My father will get peace only when Kuldeep Singh Sengar is hanged,” she told IANS, underscoring the depth of her resolve to continue the legal fight.

In a separate reaction to news agency PTI, the survivor welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision and said she was satisfied with the relief granted by the apex court.

Speaking over the phone from Delhi, she said, “I am very happy with this decision. I have got justice from the Supreme Court. I have been raising my voice for justice from the very beginning.”

She further clarified that she did not intend to level allegations against the judiciary as an institution and maintained faith in the judicial system as a whole.

“I do not make any allegations against any court. I have faith in all courts, but the Supreme Court has given me justice and will continue to do so,” the survivor told PTI.

The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Delhi High Court order that had suspended Sengar’s life imprisonment sentence and granted him bail in the 2017 Unnao rape case.

The court was hearing a plea filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation, which had challenged the High Court’s decision to grant bail to the convict pending disposal of his appeal.

During the hearing, the Supreme Court also issued a notice to Kuldeep Singh Sengar, directing him to file his response to the CBI’s plea.

Sengar, a former legislator from Unnao, was earlier convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in the case, which had triggered nationwide outrage and brought renewed focus on crimes against women and accountability of public representatives.