The appeal against the sentence of Kuldeep Singh Sengar, convicted in the Unnao rape case, was heard in the Delhi High Court. Sengar’s lawyer argued that the former MLA was not present at the spot at the time of the incident. Questioning the trial, he said that ‘hasty justice is like buried justice’.
New Delhi [भारत]July 6 (ANI): The final appeal filed against the sentence in the Unnao rape case was heard in the Delhi High Court. During this, the lawyer of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar argued that he was not present at the spot at the time of the incident. The High Court will continue to hear arguments in this case on Tuesday also.
The division bench of Justice Pratibha M Singh and Justice Vikas Mahajan heard the arguments of senior advocate N Hariharan along with lawyers SPM Tripathi and Siddharth Yadav. Senior Advocate argued that this was a case in which the verdict was delivered in 19 days; He said that ‘justice done in haste is like justice buried’. He also said that Sengar was convicted of a crime with which he was not charged. He was charged under Section 376 (1) of the IPC and the POCSO Act, while he was convicted under Section 376 (2) of the IPC, which provides for punishment for a public servant.
Lawyer raised questions on victim’s allegations
Senior Advocate Hariharan further argued that the same victim who made allegations of rape against the Appellant had made similar allegations of rape against her son and his driver a week earlier on July 11, 2017. It was alleged that in both the incidents the victim was instigated by Shashi Singh. The senior counsel argued that if the first incident had taken place, was it possible that the victim might have been provoked a second time a week later.
It was also argued that a Panchayat was convened and a marriage proposal was made to the appellant’s son on behalf of the victim’s family. However, the Appellant did not agree to this proposal. Subsequently, this present case was registered. Senior Advocate also argued that the Appellant Sengar was not present at the time of the alleged incident.
Learn about the case in detail
Sengar is serving life imprisonment for raping a minor. He had challenged the lower court’s decision. His appeal is pending in Delhi High Court. Advocate Mahmood Pracha appeared on behalf of the victim.
On 26 May it was argued that Sengar was the MLA from Bangarmau; However, the incident was reported to be from Makhi police station area of Unnao, Uttar Pradesh. Whereas he was not an MLA from that area. The senior counsel had also argued that though co-accused Shashi Singh was acquitted in the case, Sengar was also convicted for the offense of criminal conspiracy. He asked, “When the co-accused in this case was acquitted how can he be held guilty of the offense of criminal conspiracy?”
Sengar was convicted and sentenced by District Judge Dharmesh Sharma in 2018. He was also sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment along with others in the Unnao custodial death case. Both the appeals are pending in the Delhi High Court. The case was transferred from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi on a directive of the Supreme Court. Recently, the Supreme Court has directed for expeditious disposal of an appeal pending in the Delhi High Court. (ANI)
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