The Delhi High Court has rejected a plea by expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar to suspend his 10-year jail sentence for the custodial death of the Unnao rape survivor's father. Justice Ravinder Dudeja dismissed the application, stating that there were no grounds to grant relief. The court observed that the delay in the trial, cited as a reason for seeking suspension, was partly due to multiple applications filed by Sengar's legal team. The High Court has scheduled the appeal for a hearing on February 3.

Justice Dudeja noted that Sengar had already served approximately seven and a half years of his sentence. However, the court emphasized that the length of incarceration alone was not sufficient to justify the suspension of the sentence, especially considering Sengar's history and the gravity of the crime. The court highlighted Sengar's prior conviction in the connected rape case, where he received a life sentence, as a significant factor against suspending the sentence.

The High Court underscored the trial court's findings that Sengar was a key conspirator in the assault on the rape survivor's father and the subsequent cover-up. The court stated that these findings could not be easily dismissed when considering the suspension of the sentence.

Sengar, a former BJP MLA, was convicted of the custodial death of the Unnao rape survivor's father, who was arrested in 2018 under the Arms Act at Sengar's behest and died in custody due to police brutality. The trial court had stated that no leniency could be shown. In March 2020, Sengar was sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 10 lakh. His brother, Atul Singh Sengar, and five others also received 10-year jail terms for their involvement.

The Unnao rape case and related events sparked public outrage after a suspicious accident involving the rape survivor, her lawyer, and her aunts. The Supreme Court transferred the trials to Delhi in 2019 to expedite the proceedings. While the Delhi High Court had previously granted Sengar bail in the rape case, the Supreme Court stayed that order.

The rape survivor expressed satisfaction with the High Court's recent decision, stating that it brought her a sense of solace and that her father's soul would find some peace. She reiterated her determination to fight for justice and demanded the strictest punishment for all those responsible for her sexual assault and her father's death.