Unnao rape & kidnapping case: Ex-BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar sentenced to life imprisonment

Tis Hazari court in Delhi on Friday sentenced former BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar to life imprisonment. Judge Dharmesh Shah did t find any mitigating circumstances in case. Moreover, he has been asked to pay a fine of Rs.25 lakh, out of which Rs.10 lakh will be given to victim while prosecution will receive Rs.15 lakh. On December 16, court convicted him in Unnao rape case. BJP was forced to expel 4-time MLA from Bangermau in August 2019. He was convicted for rape under Indian Penal Code and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for committing penetrative sexual assault against a child.  

Read: Unnao Rape & Kidnapping Case: Former BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar Convicted By Delhi Court

"I found her statement truthful and unblemished that she was sexually assaulted. She was under threat, worried. She is a vill girl, t from a cosmopolitan educated area... Sengar was a powerful person. So she took her time..," judge said while reading out verdict on December 16.  

Read operative part of judgment here: 

Read: Unnao Rape & Kidnapping Case: Sengar's Sentence Hearing Deferred Till December 20

Sengar's counsel presses claim for minimum punishment

Earlier in week, sentencing hearing was deferred as judge asked Kuldeep Sengar’s lawyers to submit his election mination papers for judging his financial status. During proceedings, his counsel pleaded for minimum punishment and fine for him. It was claimed that he had worked for society in various capacities.  

Read: Arvind Kejriwal On Unnao Verdict: Hope re Won't Be Any More Attempts To Save Sengar

Unnao rape case

When woman was a mir, she was kidnapped and raped by Kuldeep Sengar in 2017. court had framed charges against Sengar under Sections 120b (criminal conspiracy), 363 (kidnapping), 366 (kidnapping or inducing a woman to compel for marri), 376 (rape) and or relevant sections of POCSO Act. On July 28, 2019,  woman who had accused Sengar was severely injured after car in which she was traveling was hit by a truck. Two of her aunts were killed in accident and her family had alleged foul play. During in-camera rape trial, 13 prosecution witnesses and 9 defence witnesses were examined. 

Read: Smriti Irani Calls Politics On Rape ‘abhorrent' As Court Convicts Sengar For Unnao Rape