New Delhi, February 11 The Delhi High Court on Wednesday listed for hearing on February 17 appeals by expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Sengar and others against their conviction in the custodial death case of the Unnao rape survivor's father.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma noted the Supreme Court's order directing the high court to decide the appeals within three months, and said, "it is a time-bound case now."
However, the judge deferred hearing on Wednesday after being informed that the survivor's plea seeking enhancement of the 10-year sentence was pending before a division bench of the high court, which was scheduled to hear the case in March.
The counsel for Sengar submitted that, in view of the top court's order, the survivor should file a plea for early hearing in the plea for enhancement of sentence, and the appeals could also be taken up by the division bench.
The judge directed that the matter be called on February 17 to await clarity and extended the interim bail granted to Kuldeep Sengar's brother until then.
Jaideep Sengar sought an extension of his interim bail by three months, as he was suffering from oral cancer.
The high court had granted interim bail to Jaideep Sengar on July 3, 2024, which was further extended from time to time.
Kuldeep Sengar was convicted of raping the minor survivor and sentenced to life imprisonment on December 20, 2019.
The girl was allegedly kidnapped and raped by Sengar in 2017 when she was a minor.
On March 13, 2020, Kuldeep Sengar along with his brother Jaideep Sengar alias Atul Singh was sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment by the trial court, which also imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh, in the custodial death case of the rape survivor's father.
The father of the girl was arrested at the alleged behest of the accused under the Arms Act and died in custody on April 9, 2018, due to police brutality.
The trial court said "no leniency" could be shown for killing a family's "sole bread earner".
On February 9, the Supreme Court asked the Delhi High Court to give Kuldeep Sengar's plea challenging his conviction in the custodial death case of the Unnao rape survivor's father an out-of-turn hearing, and said it should be decided within three months.
While refusing to entertain Sengar's plea challenging a January 19 order of the high court that had refused to suspend his 10-year jail term in the case, the apex court said that if the victim's family has filed any appeal against the trial court order, that should also be heard by the high court along with the expelled BJP leader's petition.
