Unnao Rape Survivor Appeals for Help, Says Sengar’s Daughter Revealed Her Identity

Unnao Rape Survivor Appeals for Support, Alleges Threats from Sengar’s Family.

The survivor of the 2017 Unnao rape case on Saturday urged the public for support, alleging that the daughters of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar and their supporters are “exposing” her identity on social media, putting her safety at risk.

In a video message, she said, “Kuldeep Singh Sengar’s two daughters and their supporters have, for the past few days, been exposing my identity online.”

Sengar, a former Uttar Pradesh MLA, was convicted in December 2019 in the Unnao rape case and sentenced to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 25 lakh.

‘I am also a daughter of this country’

On January 1, the survivor made an emotional appeal on social media, asking people to stand with her beyond caste lines. She said she and her husband have been facing a sustained online smear campaign, following posts by Sengar’s daughter claiming her father’s innocence.

In her video, the survivor alleged that supporters of Sengar had targeted her and her husband online for the past two days. She also claimed that posts were being circulated in support of Sengar at Jantar Mantar on January 11, allegedly organized by his daughters.

“I am also a daughter of this country. Please become my voice. A criminal has no caste,” she said, reaffirming her faith in the judicial process and urging society to back the fight for justice rather than rally behind a convicted offender.

Supreme Court stays Sengar’s bail

On December 29, the Supreme Court stayed a Delhi High Court order that had suspended Sengar’s life sentence and granted him bail. The apex court ruled that he shall not be released from custody.

A three-judge vacation bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant heard the CBI’s plea against the High Court’s December 23 order. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta described the case as a “horrific rape” of a minor and emphasized that justice must be served for the child, who was 15 years and 10 months old at the time of the crime.

High Court bail order and reactions

The Delhi High Court had granted bail on the grounds that Sengar had already served seven years and five months and questioned whether an elected representative qualifies as a “public servant” under the POCSO Act. The order imposed several conditions, including a personal bond of Rs 15 lakh, a restriction from entering a 5-km radius of the survivor’s residence, and a bar on threatening the survivor or her family.

The decision sparked protests by the survivor, her family, and activists.

Sengar’s daughter posts open letter

Following the Supreme Court stay, Ishita Sengar, one of Sengar’s daughters, wrote an open letter saying she felt “exhausted, frightened, and slowly losing faith” but still hoped for justice. She described years of online harassment, writing that she had been repeatedly told to “be raped, killed, or punished” simply for existing.

Meanwhile, the survivor’s mother welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision and reiterated her demand for justice for her daughter.