The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday sought maximum punishment for expelled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar and others, who have been held guilty in the two cases linked to the death of the Unnao rape victim’s father in 2018. The quantum of sentence is scheduled to be announced on Friday.
During the arguments on the quantum of sentence, the agency also sought maximum imprisonment for the convicted police officials — the then Makhi Police Station in-charge Ashok Singh Bhadauria and then Sub-Inspector K. P. Singh. They did not fulfil their duties, nor did they provide timely medical treatment to the victim's father.
Claims innocence
Sengar argued for himself, claiming innocence. Seeking justice, he said he should be hanged and acid poured into his eyes if he had done anything wrong. The Judge observed that he had already been held guilty based on evidence.
Sengar pleaded stating that he had two daughters, at which the court said he should have thought about it before he committed the crime.
On March 4, the court convicted seven persons , including Sengar. Four other accused persons were acquitted. Sengar was found guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The other offences invoked are under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 166 (public servant disobeying law, with intent to cause injury to any person), 167 (public servant framing incorrect document to cause injury), 193 (punishment for false evidence), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 211 (false charge of offence made with intent to injure), 218 (public servant framing incorrect record to save person from punishment), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint) of the IPC.
The CBI had registered the cases on the request of the State government. One case pertained to the death of the victim’s father on April 9, 2018, while the other was against him for alleged possession of illegal arms.
It was alleged that the girl’s father was assaulted following a tiff with some of the accused on April 3. He was taken to the area Police Station and framed for allegedly possessing an illegal firearm and then sent to judicial custody, during which he died.
On December 20, 2019, the court sentenced Sengar to life imprisonment for raping the girl in 2017.
(With inputs from PTI )
