The Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and NV Anjaria, asked the Delhi High Court to give an "out-of-turn" hearing to former Uttar Pradesh MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar's appeal against his 10-year conviction in the custodial death of the Unnao rape victim's father. The High Court has been directed to decide the case within three months.

The Court also ordered that the victim’s appeal seeking enhancement of the sentence — asking that the charge be changed from Section 304 IPC to Section 302 IPC (which carries life imprisonment) — be heard together with the appeals of the co-accused.

Challenge To Sentence Suspension:
The matter came up while the Court was hearing Sengar’s challenge to the Delhi High Court’s January 19 order refusing to suspend his sentence, even though he has already served 7 years and 7 months.

Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave argued that suspension of sentence is usually granted in appeals involving fixed-term sentences. However, the bench pointed out that Sengar is already serving a life sentence in the related rape case. Justice Bagchi asked, “If you are serving life sentence in another offence, is that not a relevant consideration for suspension of sentence?”

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Court that the main conviction appeal is listed for February 11, and suggested an expedited out-of-turn listing. Advocate Pracha who appeared for the victim sought enhancement of the sentence.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant strongly criticised Pracha over media comments, saying: “We are also aware of the media trial going on in this case, which we don’t approve of it. You have no business to go to media if you are engaging as counsel in this…as CJI, I can’t tolerate all these things.”

Background Of The Custodial Death:
For context, the victim’s father died in custody after a brutal assault in April 2018 near the Unnao court. The trials were shifted to Delhi in 2019, where Sengar received a life sentence in the rape case and was later convicted in the conspiracy behind the custodial death.

Case Details: KULDEEP SINGH SENGAR Versus CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, SLP(Crl) No. 2204/2026