A group of women's rights activists and the family of the Unnao rape survivor assembled outside the Delhi High Court on Friday to protest against the court's decision to suspend the sentence of convict Kuldeep Singh Sengar. However, they were quickly instructed to disperse as the police informed them that the protest was not allowed and directed them to relocate to Jantar Mantar.
Demonstrators were prevented from protesting outside the Delhi High Court, resulting in a short interaction with court security. Security staff informed them that protests are prohibited at the court entrance and requested them to relocate.
The authorities warned the protesters, indicating that demonstrating at this location is prohibited and illegal. Legal action may be taken against you in five minutes. If you want to protest, please move to Jantar Mantar.
A few days after being removed from India Gate, activist Yogita Bhayana voiced her frustration about being asked to leave the court premises. "We are being moved from place to place. Where can we go to make our voices heard?" she questioned.
The survivor's mother insisted that the bail be denied, stating her distrust in the High Court's decision. 'His bail must be denied... We will appeal to the Supreme Court. We no longer trust the High Court... If justice is not served in the Supreme Court, we will seek it in another country... The individual responsible for my husband's murder should be executed without delay,' she informed news agency ANI.
The demonstrators eventually dispersed, continuing to emphasize their call for justice.
A petition has been submitted to the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court's ruling to pause the prison sentence of former BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who was found guilty in the 2017 Unnao rape case. The appeal, filed by lawyers Anjale Patel and Pooja Shilpkar, seeks the Supreme Court's intervention to stay the High Court's decision until a more thorough examination is conducted.
The petitioners claimed that the High Court issued a suspension without considering the trial court's conclusions. They argued that the High Court made its decision without acknowledging the trial court's determination that Sengar should be imprisoned for the remainder of his life.
The plea argues that the High Court's ruling overlooked the gravity of Sengar's criminal history and the seriousness of the crime. The petitioners claimed, "The High Court made a significant legal and factual mistake by granting bail or suspending Sengar's sentence, despite his severe criminal background and proven involvement in the heinous crime of rape."
The Supreme Court is anticipated to examine the issue and determine whether to halt the High Court's order to suspend the sentence, as requested by the petitioners.