Unnao Rape Case: Kuldeep Sengar’s Daughter Appeals for Justice After Supreme Court Order

Ishita Sengar, the daughter of former BJP MLA and Unnao rape convict Kuldeep Singh Sengar, issued an emotional public appeal after the Supreme Court of India paused a Delhi High Court order that had suspended her father’s life sentence in the 2017 Unnao rape case.

The Supreme Court acted on a plea filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation, challenging the High Court’s decision. While issuing notice to Kuldeep Sengar and seeking his response, the apex court clarified that he would not be released as he continues to serve a sentence in another criminal case.

Following the setback, Ishita Sengar posted an open letter on X, describing the emotional, social and psychological toll her family has faced over the past eight years. Writing as “a daughter who is exhausted, frightened, and slowly losing faith,” she appealed for an impartial and fearless review of the case.

In her letter, Ishita rejected the perception that her family remains powerful, questioning how “power” could coexist with being voiceless for nearly a decade. She said her identity is often reduced to a political label, stripping her of her individuality and humanity.

She detailed sustained online abuse, including rape and death threats, stating that the hostility has been relentless and deeply personal. According to her, the family has been “dehumanised every single day,” drained emotionally and financially while repeatedly approaching institutions in search of relief.

Ishita also raised concerns about what she described as a climate of fear, alleging that public pressure and intimidation have discouraged open discussion and debate. She clarified that her letter was not meant to threaten institutions or seek sympathy, but to highlight the human cost borne by families caught in prolonged legal battles.

“We are asking for justice because we are human,” she wrote, concluding with an appeal not to lose faith in the country and its institutions.

Separately, Ishita’s elder sister Aishwarya Sengar, who is also part of her father’s legal team, echoed similar concerns in a television interview. She alleged sustained social harassment and claimed that the defence arguments were not fully heard during the Supreme Court proceedings, pointing to what she described as inconsistencies in the survivor’s statements.

The case continues to remain under judicial consideration.