SC Stays Sengar Bail; Daughters Plead Innocence in Unnao Rape Case
Aishwarya Sengar, daughter of former MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, defended her father and alleged his innocence in the Unnao rape case. She also claimed an “age-old enmity” toward the family of the victim, and pressed the media to bring any evidence against him.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) December 29: Aishwarya Sengar, daughter of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, stated Monday that her family has an "age-old enmity" with the family of the Unnao rape victim, which, she argued, actually predates the case. She additionally called on the media to question the rape victim for even one piece of evidence against her father, asserting that her father is innocent.
Survivor’s Shifting Timeline and Statements
Aishwarya Sengar, Sengar's daughter, accused the survivor of “repeatedly changing statements” and their family’s “dignity was stripped off” during the eight-year trial. She also said an AIIMS medical board finding showed the survivor was not a minor when the incident occurred.
“I’ve been fighting for justice for eight years, but maybe the sorrows of me and my family mean nothing. We have been stripped of our dignity, our peace, and even of our fundamental right to be heard. Still hope for justice," she said.
"We were not even allowed to argue on the merits of the case today. The survivor has changed the timing several times — first 2 pm, then 6 pm, and finally 8 pm," she added.
AIIMS Age Report Dispute
She also referred to medical and technical evidence and said that an AIIMS medical board had found the survivor’s age exceeded 18 years at the time of the incident.
As per the call records, she said, "It has come on record that the CDR locations show she was not present at the place of the alleged incident and that she herself was on a call at the alleged time.”
Daughters’ Emotional Plea
In an open letter, Kuldeep’s daughter Ishita said that they are exhausted, frightened, and slowly losing faith, but still holding on to hope because there is nowhere else left to go.
“Over these years, I have been told countless times on social media that I should be raped, killed, or punished simply for existing. This hatred is not abstract. It is daily. It is relentless. And it breaks something inside you when you realise that so many people believe you do not even deserve to live," she said.
"We have been drained financially, emotionally, and physically running from one office to another, writing letters, making calls, begging to be heard. There is no door we did not knock on. No authority we did not approach. No media house we did not write to. And yet no one listened," Ishita added.
Supreme Court Intervention
The Supreme Court on Monday paused the order of the Delhi High Court that had given the former BJP MLA and Unnao rape case convict, Kuldeep Singh Sengar, bail.
Sengar’s daughters, Aishwarya and Ishita, have complained publicly that their family has suffered years of social harassment and they have not been given a fair hearing. The Supreme Court made clear that Sengar would stay in jail due to the fact that he is already serving a sentence in another criminal case.
It also noted that the matter involved serious questions of law and that the bail order would not take effect until further hearing.
