Unnao rape case: SC refuses to withdraw complainant’s security cover

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to revoke the security cover provided to the complainant in the Unnao rape case, citing continued concerns of threats to her safety, PTI reported.

The woman was raped in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao district in 2017, when she was a minor. In December 2019, expelled Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar was convicted of raping the woman and was sentenced to life imprisonment and was also ordered to pay Rs 25 lakh as compensation to the complainant.

The top court, however, directed that the security cover for the woman’s family members and other witnesses in the case be revoked. The court clarified that the family members and other witnesses could reach out to the local police in case they continue to feel any threat.

“We are of the opinion that protection granted by this Court to the concerned persons at the relevant time may not be continued as the case has resulted in conviction who is awarded life imprisonment,” the bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and PB Varale said.

The woman and her family had been placed under the protection of the Central Reserve Police Force after an order from the top court in 2019. The court had noted at the time that there was...

Read more