New Delhi, Dec 29: Former IPS officer and ex-Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry Kiran Bedi on Monday termed the Supreme Court’s decision to stay the Delhi High Court order granting bail to expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case as “major justice” for the survivor.
Speaking to IANS, Bedi said the apex court’s intervention was not a setback for the convict but a reaffirmation of justice for the victim. “This is major justice for the victim. Given the abundance of evidence, this decision is a setback for the rich and powerful. This man was a sitting MLA of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly,” she said.
Bedi questioned how individuals accused of heinous crimes manage to attain positions of power. “What is truly shameful is how we elect such people. They take an oath to protect the Constitution and then commit crimes like rape. This reflects a serious flaw in how we choose our representatives,” she added.
Calling the verdict a larger message to society, Bedi said it demonstrated the power of collective demand for justice. She described the case as a stark battle between extreme power and utter helplessness. “This was the fight of a lone girl against a giant. She was exploited, yet she did not lose courage. We salute her bravery and that of her family,” Bedi said.
Recalling the hardships faced by the survivor, Bedi noted that her father and lawyer were killed during the course of the case. “Despite everything, she stood firm. Credit also goes to the volunteers who supported her throughout this long struggle,” she said.
Bedi also expressed distress over the earlier suspension of Sengar’s sentence on what she described as technical grounds. “It is reassuring that even during the court’s vacation, the Supreme Court intervened. This shows that if people raise a collective voice, justice is eventually delivered,” she added.
Earlier in the day, a three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant stayed the operation of the Delhi High Court order that had suspended Sengar’s life sentence and granted him bail. The apex court clarified that Sengar will not be released and issued notice to him on the CBI’s plea, seeking a response within four weeks.
