New Delhi | January 19, 2026

The Delhi High Court on Monday rejected the plea of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar seeking suspension of his sentence in the custodial death case of the Unnao rape victim’s father. The court made it clear that there was no ground to grant relief and said the matter should instead be decided on merits during the final hearing of his appeal.

The case relates to the 2018 incident in Unnao where the rape survivor’s father was allegedly beaten by Sengar’s aide when he went to attend a court hearing. He was later arrested on charges of illegal arms possession and died due to multiple injuries while in police custody. In March 2020, a trial court sentenced Sengar to 10 years in prison in the case.

Justice Ravinder Dudeja noted that although Sengar has already spent around seven and a half years in jail, the delay in hearing his appeal was largely due to his own actions. The court observed that Sengar had repeatedly filed applications seeking interim bail and suspension of sentence, which led to multiple adjournments.

The High Court said that considering the seriousness of the offence and Sengar’s conduct, the application for suspension of sentence could not be allowed. It added that the appeal should be heard finally instead of granting interim relief. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court had earlier stayed a separate High Court order that had suspended Sengar’s sentence in the rape case. Sengar’s appeal against the 2020 conviction is now scheduled to be heard on April 3.

Unnao Custodial Death Case: Delhi HC Says No Relief for Kuldeep Sengar

The Delhi High Court on Monday refused to suspend the jail sentence of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the custodial death case linked to the Unnao rape victim’s father. The court said the matter should be decided through a final hearing instead of granting temporary relief.

The case goes back to 2018, when the victim’s father was allegedly assaulted by Sengar’s aide while attending a court hearing in Unnao. He was later arrested on arms-related charges and died in police custody due to serious injuries. In March 2020, a trial court sentenced Sengar and others to 10 years in prison.

The High Court noted that Sengar has already spent about seven and a half years behind bars. However, it observed that the delay in hearing his appeal was mainly due to repeated applications filed by him seeking bail and suspension of sentence.

Taking all facts into account, the court dismissed Sengar’s plea and said the appeal must be heard on its merits. The Supreme Court has already stayed a separate High Court order that had suspended Sengar’s sentence in the rape case. His appeal in the custodial death matter is scheduled for hearing on April 3.