CBI gets time to file reply on Senger's appeal in Unnao case

Expelled BJP lawmaker Kuldeep Sengar challenged the trial court order convicting him and others in the custodial death of Unnao rape victim's father.

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday granted more time to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file a reply on expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Senger's appeal against his conviction in connection with a case related to the custodial death of the father of Unnao rape victim.

The CBI urged a single-judge bench of Justice Anu Malhotra to grant more time to file a response on Senger's appeal, after which the matter was listed for further hearing on January 12, 2021.

Sengar, in his appeal filed through advocate Kanhaiya Singhal, has challenged the trial court order convicting him and others in case of custodial death of Unnao rape victim's father.

Advocate Singhal had urged the Delhi High Court to set aside the trial court orders dated March 4 and March 13 on conviction and sentencing of the accused persons.

The trial court had on March 4 convicted Sengar of culpable homicide not amounting to murder in connection with the victim's father's death. On March 13, the court sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment. The rape victim's father had died in judicial custody on April 9, 2018.

Singhal submitted that in the instant case neither the justice was done nor seen to be done which has certainly shaken the confidence of the public in the entire justice delivery system.

"The present case is an offshoot of a long-drawn political rivalry and deep-seated animosity existing between two political factions, the appellant and the co-accused persons, who are supporters of the BJP on one hand while Mahesh Singh and his criminal associates, on the other hand, owe allegiance to the Samajwadi Party," Singhal added.

The trial court had also convicted Ashok Singh Bhadoria, Kamta Prasad Singh, Kuldeep Singh Sengar, Jaideep Singh alias Atul Singh, Vineet Mishra alias Vinay Mishra, Birendra Singh alias Buwa Singh and Shashi Pratap Singh alias Suman Singh.

However, four accused -- Amir Khan (constable), Ram Sharan Singh alias Sonu Singh, Sharadvir Singh alias Guddu Singh and Shailendra Singh alias Tinku Singh -- were acquitted by the court.

The CBI filed a charge-sheet in the case on July 13, 2018. Thereafter, the charges were framed against Sengar, his brother Atul, Makhi police station's then in-charge Ashok Singh Bhadauria, sub-inspector Kamta Prasad, constable Amir Khan and six others in the case.

(ANI)