Sengar jailed for life in Unnao rape case

Blurb: Court also imposes exemplary fine of Rs25 lakh

New Delhi, December 20

Expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar (55) will remain in jail till his last breath for raping a minor girl in Unnao in 2017, a Delhi court said on Friday while terming his offence as a “depraved act” of a “democratic functionary” leading to erosion of citizens’ faith in him.

Sending out a stern message, the court decided to award the maximum punishment of life term with a rider that the convict will remain in jail for “remainder of his natural biological life” and also imposed an exemplary fine of Rs 25 lakh on him to be paid within a month.

District Judge Dharmesh Sharma also made clear that in case of non-payment of fine by Sengar, the Uttar Pradesh Government will have to pay from the state coffer as provided in the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

“Convict Kuldeep Singh Sengar was a ‘public servant’ when he committed the depraved act of ‘aggravated penetrative sexual assault’ upon the minor girl…, every coercive measure was adopted by the convict himself and through his henchmen to intimidate, harm and silence the victim girl and her family members from raising any voice against him.

“The convict was a key democratic functionary being representative of the people and the offence committed by the convict has eroded the faith of the people to which he owed allegiance and a duty to exhibit upright moral behaviour and probity in personal and public life,” the court said in its order on quantum of sentence.

The court convicted 54-year-old Sengar under various provisions including Section 376 (2) of IPC which deals with the offence of rape committed by a public servant who “takes advantage of his official position and commits rape on a woman in his custody as such public servant or in the custody of a public servant subordinate to him”.

“The offence of rape upon a minor child indelibly leaves a scar on the most cherished possession viz. her dignity, chastity, honour and reputation. Therefore, mercy in such heinous crime committed by powerful persons would be a travesty of justice and the plea of the leniency cannot be sustained.

“The convict Kuldeep Singh Sengar is hereby sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of his natural biological life in terms of Section 376 (2) Indian Penal Code,” the court said. It also directed that additional Rs 10 lakh be paid as compensation to the mother of the rape survivor.

Besides, the court directed the CBI to continue assessing threat perception to the life and security of the survivor and her family members every three months. It said they will continue to reside in rented accommodation made available by Delhi Commission for Women for one more year and directed the UP Government to pay Rs 15,000 per month for the rent. PTI