The Delhi High Court has declined to grant relief to former Uttar Pradesh MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, rejecting his request for suspension of the 10-year sentence imposed on him in the Unnao custodial death case. The Court held that no sufficient grounds were made out to justify staying the sentence while his appeal remains pending.
Sengar had approached the High Court seeking interim suspension of his sentence, citing the long period he has already spent in custody and raising concerns relating to his health. However, the Court noted that prolonged incarceration by itself cannot be a decisive factor, particularly when the appeal has not progressed substantially due to repeated applications moved by the appellant himself.
The Bench observed that there was no change in circumstances since the earlier rejection of similar relief, and emphasised that the seriousness of the offence weighed against granting suspension. It also pointed out that the conviction arose from a well-reasoned trial court judgment, which held Sengar and his co-accused guilty for their role in the death of the rape survivor’s father while he was in police custody.
Sengar was sentenced in 2020 after the trial court concluded that the custodial death was not accidental and that abuse of power had played a central role in the offence. The sentence included rigorous imprisonment along with a monetary fine, with the court underscoring that such crimes demand strict punishment.
With the dismissal of the present application, the High Court has made it clear that Sengar will continue to serve his sentence until his appeal is finally decided. The matter will proceed in accordance with law, but no interim relief has been granted at this stage.
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