Vijay Wadettiwar slams bail for Unnao rape accused, cites detention of Sonam Wangchuk

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 ANISpeaking to ANI Wadettiwar questioned the governmentrsquos moral authority and urged it to approach a higher court to seek cancellation of Sengarrsquos bail warning that public faith in the justice system was erodingldquoThere 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 countryrdquo Wadettiwar told ANIHis 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 Sengarrsquos life sentenceNHRC member criticises Rahul GandhiMeanwhile 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 Investigationrsquos CBI decision to challenge the bail order in a higher courtldquoWhat 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 victimrsquos daughter as it was earlierrdquo Kanungo told ANIRahul 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 Congressruled stateCongress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi was also present during the meetingSpeaking to reporters the survivor said both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi assured her of support in the legal battle ldquoThis is the first time in the country that a rape accused is being released on bail This order has weakened the daughters of the countryrdquo she said adding that she wished to meet the Prime Minister and the PresidentAdvocate Mehmood Pracha stated that the survivor and her family continue to face threatsA division bench of the Delhi High Court comprising Justice Subramonium Prasad and Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar suspended Sengarrsquos life sentence and granted him bail on the condition that he furnish a bond of Rs 15 lakhHowever Sengar will remain in custody as he has not yet been granted bail in a separate case related to the custodial death of the survivorrsquos father in which he was sentenced to 10 yearsrsquo imprisonment An appeal and application for suspension of sentence in that case are pending before the High CourtWhile granting bail the court directed that Sengar must not enter a fivekilometre radius around the survivorrsquos residence remain in Delhi and refrain from contacting the survivor or her familyWith inputs from ANI