"Until He Is Hanged": Unnao Survivor’s Vow After SC Stays Sengar’s Bail

The decade-long battle of the Unnao rape survivor took another dramatic turn this week. On December 29, 2025, a Supreme Court vacation bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant stayed the Delhi High Court's controversial order that had suspended former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar's life sentence and granted him bail. The apex court directed that Sengar "shall not be released from custody," halting what many feared would be a dangerous precedent for powerful convicts. Reacting to the stay, the survivor expressed relief but issued a chilling vow: "I will not rest until he is hanged. I will keep fighting. Only then will my family and I get justice."

The Context (How We Got Here)

The legal whiplash began on December 23, when the Delhi High Court suspended Sengar's sentence, citing that he had already served over seven years in prison. This decision sparked outrage, given Sengar’s conviction not just for the 2017 rape of a minor but also for the custodial death of her father. The survivor's family immediately staged protests in Delhi, alleging they were manhandled by police. The CBI, recognizing the threat to the victim, moved the Supreme Court, arguing that Sengar’s release would endanger the sole witness to his crimes. The Supreme Court's intervention re-freezes the status quo: Sengar remains a lifer, but the High Court's willingness to entertain bail has reopened old wounds.

The Key Players (Who & So What)

The Survivor (The Voice): Her demand for the death penalty ("hanging") reflects a deep disillusionment. Despite securing a life sentence in 2019, the very fact that bail was considered has shattered her sense of safety. She reports receiving threats "even today."
Kuldeep Singh Sengar (The Convict): The expelled BJP MLA wields immense influence even from jail. His defense—that seven years served warrants bail pending a long appeal—was accepted by the HC but rejected (for now) by the SC.
CBI (The Prosecutor): Unusually proactive in appealing the bail, the agency's stance confirms the high threat level Sengar poses. Their argument wasn't just about law; it was about the survivor’s survival.

The BIGSTORY Reframe

While mainstream media focuses on the "Bail Denied" headline, the deeper story is the "Appellate Vulnerability." The Delhi High Court’s order exposed a systemic flaw: in India, even "life imprisonment" isn't airtight if the appeal process drags on for years. The High Court applied a standard routine for lesser crimes to a heinous abuse of power, treating Sengar like an ordinary convict rather than a politician who allegedly orchestrated the killing of the victim's father and aunts.

Furthermore, the "Pattern of State Violence" against the survivor’s family continues. The visuals of her mother being allegedly manhandled by security forces during the December 25 protests mirror the very intimidation tactics used against them in Unnao back in 2017. The system that is supposed to protect them often ends up policing their grief.

The Implications (Why This Changes Things)

The Supreme Court’s stay is a temporary relief, not a final verdict. It sets a crucial precedent that for "heinous crimes" involving powerful figures, the "years served" argument for bail cannot override the threat to victims. However, the survivor’s demand for capital punishment shifts the goalposts—she is no longer asking for conviction (which she has) but for finality, fearing that as long as Sengar is alive, her life remains in jeopardy.

The Closing Question (Now, Think About This)

If a rape survivor with Supreme Court protection and a CBI conviction still receives death threats after eight years, what chance does an ordinary woman have against a powerful aggressor?

FAQs

What did the Unnao rape survivor mean by "won't rest until he is hanged"? Following the Supreme Court's decision to stay Kuldeep Sengar's bail on December 29, 2025, the survivor expressed relief but stated that true justice would only be served with the death penalty. She cited continuous threats to her family as proof that Sengar remains a danger even from prison.

What is the latest Supreme Court order in the Unnao rape case? On December 29, 2025, a Supreme Court bench led by CJI Surya Kant stayed the Delhi High Court's December 23 order. The HC had suspended Sengar's life sentence and granted him bail. The SC directed that he "shall not be released" and issued a notice on the CBI's plea challenging the relief.

Why did the Delhi High Court suspend Kuldeep Sengar's life sentence? The Delhi High Court had suspended Sengar's sentence on the grounds that he had already served over 7 years and 5 months in prison and his appeal against the conviction would likely take a long time to be heard. This "suspension of sentence" is a legal provision often applied in cases of long incarceration pending appeal, but it was highly controversial given the heinous nature of Sengar's crimes.

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Brajesh Mishra Associate Editor

Brajesh Mishra is an Associate Editor at BIGSTORY NETWORK, specializing in daily news from India with a keen focus on AI, technology, and the automobile sector. He brings sharp editorial judgment and a passion for delivering accurate, engaging, and timely stories to a diverse audience.