A Delhi court on Friday sentenced former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar to life imprisonment for raping a minor girl in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao in 2017.
“The convict Kuldeep Singh Sengar is hereby sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of his natural biological life in terms of Section 376 (2) Indian Penal Code,” said the court order.
The court also imposed a fine of ₹25 lakh on Sengar, awarding an additional compensation of ₹10 lakh over and above the amount of ₹25 lakh earlier awarded as ex-gratia to the victim's mother. The amount will be deposited in the victim's bank account as soon as the fine is realised.
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From the fine amount of Rs.25 lakh, on its payment or realisation, Rs.15 lakh will be paid to the State government to meet the prosecution and trial expenses.
As directed by the court, the victim and her family members will continue to live for a year in a rented accommodation arranged by the Delhi Commission for Women, and the Uttar Pradesh government will pay the rental charges of ₹15,000 a month till November 2020.
The CBI has been directed to ensure the security of the victim and her family members and keep assessing the threat perception every three months. The victim and the CBI can approach the Member Secretary of the Delhi State Legal Services Authority or the District Witness Protection Committee (West) for any assistance.
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The court proceedings started in August. It acquitted co-accused Shashi Singh, giving her the benefit of doubt.
Sengar also faces prosecution for the alleged murder of the victim's father in judicial custody on April 9, 2018. He has been charge-sheeted by the CBI in another case of alleged conspiracy and criminal intimidation.