Much awaited court verdict in the Unnao rape case is out. Delhi court pronounced Kuldeep Sengar guilty of raping of a minor in Unnao in 2017.
The quantum of punishment will be decided on December 18. However, co-accused Shashi Singh has been acquitted in the case.
No one can deny how difficult the battle to seek justice has been for this young woman. In the country, where many are scared to raise their voices against powerful people, this 19-year-old has shown that neither gender nor age defines true courage.
After fighting for almost 2 years, the Unnao rape survivor has finally got justice. But, she has paid a very heavy price for winning this battle. She not only faced multiple death threats but also lost her father.
As per the sources, the court said:
“Sengar was a powerful person, the victim was a village girl, not from a cosmopolitan educated area which led to delay in filing case. I found her statement truthful, unblemished that she was sexually assaulted and under threat”
The Court also shared how the victim and her family were harassed as multiple cases were filed against the family members after she wrote to the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. The court pulled up the CBI for the delay in filing the charge sheet in the case and said it prolonged trial against Sengar.
District Judge Dharmesh Sharma convicted Sengar for rape under IPC and POCSO Act for the offense of public servant committing penetrative sexual assault against a child. The offenses entail a maximum punishment of life imprisonment.
So What Happened?
Now aged 19, she was only a child when she was allegedly kidnapped and raped by the powerful MLA Sengar in 2017. Though the crime happened in 2017, police didn’t arrest him till April last year. Tired of police laxity and negligence, this brave and courageous woman threatened to set herself ablaze in front of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s home in Lucknow if the police didn’t file her complaint.
The culprits made all possible attempts to make life difficult for her and her family. Her father was allegedly framed in an illegal arms case and was arrested on April 3, 2018. A few days later, he died in judicial custody on April 9.
Also Read: Will I Meet Unnao Rape Victim’s Fate: School Girl’s Question To Senior Cop
But, even after losing her father, this brave and courageous daughter refused to give up. Facing constant threats by Kuldeep Sengar, the victim wrote a letter to then Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi stating that she faced threats by Sengar. Hence, the case was shifted outside Uttar Pradesh.
During the trial, which was held in-camera, 13 prosecution witnesses and 9 defense witnesses were examined. The mother and uncle of the rape survivor were the main witnesses in the case.
On July 28 this year, the victim was severely injured when her car was hit by a truck. And, in that unfortunate incident, she lost two aunts. The rape survivor herself had to be airlifted to Delhi from a hospital in Lucknow following the car crash. A special court was also held at AIIMS hospital to record her statement.
The court has framed charges against Sengar and Singh under IPC sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 363 (kidnapping), 366 (kidnapping or inducing a woman to compel for marriage), 376 (rape) and other relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
At IFORHER, we applaud the courage of this inspiring woman, who fought tirelessly against the powerful politician. Though she lost many of her family members in this battle of justice, she never gave up. We hope many more would seek inspiration from her brave battle and would raise their voice against the injustice.
