SC refuses to withdraw CRPF security cover of Unnao rape survivor

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to withdraw the CRPF security cover of the Unnao rape survivor, saying there was still a perception of threat.

A bench of Justices Bela M. Trivedi and P.B. Varale, however, removed the CRPF security cover given to her family members and other witnesses, noting that a conviction had already been secured.

"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. However, we make it clear that the CRPF cover for the victim shall continue till further orders of this court," the bench said.

The top court said the family members and other witnesses would be at liberty to approach local police if they still felt any threat.

During the hearing, additional solicitor-general Aishwarya Bhati submitted that conviction had taken place in the case and sought permission to withdraw the CRPF security cover. The Centre had moved a plea seeking the withdrawal of CRPF security cover provided to the family following the court's order in 2019.

Expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar is serving a life term for raping the minor girl in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao in 2017.

The top court on 1 August 2019 directed the rape survivor, her mother, other members of the family and their lawyer to be provided security by the CRPF.

All five cases registered in connection with the rape incident were transferred by the apex court from Lucknow to Delhi with directions to a designated special court to hold daily trials and complete them within 45 days.

The apex court also directed the Uttar Pradesh government to provide Rs 25 lakh interim compensation to the survivor.

Sengar's appeal challenging the trial court's verdict in the Unnao rape case is pending in Delhi High Court. He has sought the quashing of the trial court's December 2019 judgment that sentenced him to imprisonment for the remainder of his life.

On 13 March 2020, Sengar was also sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment in the custodial death case of the survivor's father, who was arrested in a case under the Arms Act and died in custody on 9 April 2018.

The trial court, which did not find the accused guilty of murder, awarded the maximum sentence for the offence of culpable homicide not amounting to murder to the convict under section 304 IPC, after holding that there was no intention to kill.