Wadettiwar questioned the government’s moral authority and urged it to approach a higher court to seek cancellation of Sengar’s bail, warning that public faith in the justice system was eroding
Vijay Wadettiwar. File Pic
Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar on Thursday criticised the bail granted to former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the Unnao rape case, contrasting it with the detention of environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk, reported news agency ANI.
Speaking to ANI, Wadettiwar questioned the government’s moral authority and urged it to approach a higher court to seek cancellation of Sengar’s bail, warning that public faith in the justice system was eroding.
“There was massive public outrage after the Unnao rape incident. Yet the main accused, Kuldeep Sengar, has been granted unconditional bail. A rape accused can get bail, but an environmentalist like Sonam Wangchuk is in jail. If the government has even a little shame, it should approach a higher court to get this bail cancelled. There was a time when public conscience awakened the judiciary, but that does not seem to be happening anymore. This is a very serious issue and could lead to anarchy in the country,” Wadettiwar told ANI.
His remarks came a day after Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi met the Unnao rape survivor and her family, who have been protesting against the suspension of Sengar’s life sentence.
NHRC member criticises Rahul Gandhi
Meanwhile, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) member Priyank Kanungo, speaking in Bhopal, criticised Rahul Gandhi, alleging attempts to gain political mileage from the issue. However, he welcomed the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) decision to challenge the bail order in a higher court.
“What the Leader of Opposition did yesterday, trying to make political gains by forcibly exploiting the tears of a victim, is wrong. However, if the High Court has granted bail to a convicted criminal and the agency has appealed to a higher court, this is a welcome step. I hope justice is delivered to the victim’s daughter as it was earlier,” Kanungo told ANI.
Rahul Gandhi met the rape survivor and her family and assured them of full support to ensure justice, security, and dignity. The family sought assistance in securing a strong legal team to pursue the case and also requested help in relocating to a Congress-ruled state.
Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi was also present during the meeting.
Speaking to reporters, the survivor said both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi assured her of support in the legal battle. “This is the first time in the country that a rape accused is being released on bail. This order has weakened the daughters of the country,” she said, adding that she wished to meet the Prime Minister and the President.
Advocate Mehmood Pracha stated that the survivor and her family continue to face threats.
A division bench of the Delhi High Court, comprising Justice Subramonium Prasad and Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar, suspended Sengar’s life sentence and granted him bail on the condition that he furnish a bond of Rs 15 lakh.
However, Sengar will remain in custody as he has not yet been granted bail in a separate case related to the custodial death of the survivor’s father, in which he was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment. An appeal and application for suspension of sentence in that case are pending before the High Court.
While granting bail, the court directed that Sengar must not enter a five-kilometre radius around the survivor’s residence, remain in Delhi, and refrain from contacting the survivor or her family.
(With inputs from ANI)
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