Unnao Custodial Death: Delhi HC Asks CBI on Jaideep Sengar's Sentence Suspension Plea
Delhi High Court asks CBI for a response on Jaideep Singh Sengar's request to suspend his sentence in the Unnao custodial death case on medical grounds.
The Delhi High Court has requested a response from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) regarding a plea filed by Jaideep Singh Sengar, who is seeking the suspension of his sentence in the high-profile Unnao custodial death case. Sengar, currently serving a 10-year term, has approached the court citing critical health issues following cancer surgery.
Medical Grounds and Legal Arguments
Appearing for the convict, senior advocate Pramod Kumar Dubey informed the court that this is the second application for the suspension of the sentence. The defense argued that Sengar has already completed one-third of his ten-year punishment, meeting the criteria required under new legal provisions for the suspension of a sentence.
Furthermore, the defense highlighted a perceived disparity in the treatment of the convicts in this case. Out of the seven individuals convicted, five have already been granted a suspension of their sentences. It was also noted that Kuldeep Singh Sengar has completed a 10-year sentence.
CBI's Opposition and Allegations of Misuse
The Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) representing the CBI strongly opposed the application. The prosecution pointed out that the convict had failed to surrender after his interim bail on medical grounds had expired.
Taking note of this, the court observed that the appellant appeared to have misused the liberty granted to him. However, the senior counsel countered this claim, asserting that Sengar did not intentionally misuse his freedom. According to the defense, the special bench had not assembled on the scheduled date, which prevented the matter from being heard.
Concerns Over Healthcare in Prison
A significant point of contention raised by the defense was the lack of medical care within the prison. The counsel submitted that despite previous directions from the High Court, Sengar is not being provided with the necessary medicines because they are expensive. To resolve this, the defense stated that the family is willing to bear the entire cost of the required medication.
In response, Justice Sachin Datta directed the jail authorities to ensure that all necessary medicines required for Sengar's treatment are provided to him without delay.
The Broader Context of the Case
The Unnao custodial death case saw the conviction of several individuals, including former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, Jaideep Singh Sengar, Ashok Singh Bhadauria, Kamta Prasad, Birendra (also known as Bauwa Singh), and Vineet Mishra.
While Jaideep Singh Sengar is currently serving a 10-year sentence for the custodial death, he is also serving a life imprisonment sentence in a separate case involving the rape of a minor.
The Delhi High Court has listed the matter for a further hearing on December 10, by which time the CBI is expected to provide its response.