Kuldeep Singh Sengar, the MLA expelled from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) earlier this year after severe public outrage and pressure, was convicted today by a special court in Delhi of kidnapping and raping a minor in Unnao in 2017. The sentence will be pronounced on December 19.
Last year the survivor staged a protest outside the Uttar Pradesh chief minister’s house warning that she would set herself on fire if her complaint was not heard. After that, her complaint was registered.
Earlier, Sengar continued to enjoy his position in the party using his political influences. On July 28 this year, the woman who had accused Sengar was severely injured after the car in which she was travelling was hit by a truck. Two of her aunts were killed in the accident and her family had alleged foul play. He was eventually expelled from his party in August this year after widespread criticism across the country against his party for not taking against him.
In fact, last year, her father was framed in an illegal arms case and he died while in custody. The court had also charged the MLA and his aides with murder.
The case was transferred to a special court on August 5 this year and the Supreme Court had given directives to complete the proceedings within 45 days. The SC, taking cognisance of the rape survivor’s letter written to then Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, had on August 1 transferred all five cases registered in connection with the Unnao rape incident from a Lucknow court in Uttar Pradesh to the court in Delhi with directions to hold trial on a daily basis and completing it within 45 days.
The MLA was charged with nine charges which included criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, rape and other relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
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