'Kaal' for my family: Unnao rape survivor to move SC against suspension of Sengar's jail term

The 2017 Unnao rape survivor on Wednesday said the Delhi High Court's decision to suspend the sentence of former BJP legislator Kuldeep Singh Sengar had pushed her family into fear and uncertainty, describing the ruling as "kaal", or death, for those seeking justice.

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She said she would challenge the order before the Supreme Court, even as political reactions and public protests intensified in the national capital.

A day after she and her mother were removed from a protest at India Gate, the survivor told media organisations that the court's order had worsened her security concerns. She said protection extended earlier to her family members, lawyers and witnesses had already been withdrawn. "If the convict gets bail in a case like this, how will the country's daughters remain safe?" she asked, adding, "Those with money win, those without money lose."

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday suspended Sengar's life sentence in the rape and kidnapping case and ordered his release on bail while his appeal against the December 2019 conviction is heard. The court directed that Sengar must not enter a five-kilometre radius of the survivor's residence and must not threaten her or her mother. It added that any violation of the conditions would automatically cancel the bail. Sengar, however, will continue to remain in prison as he is also serving a separate 10-year sentence in connection with the custodial death of the survivor's father and has not been granted bail in that case.