The 2017 Unnao rape case isn’t just a headline, it is a chilling example of what happens when justice surrenders to power. This isn’t just about what happened, but what was allowed to happen- by those who misused their power, and a system that took too long to grant justice.
In 2017, a 17-year-old girl from Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, was lured under the pretense of getting a job and repeatedly assaulted by Shubham Singh, his driver, and others. Soon after, she accused Kuldeep Singh Sengar of being involved in the attacks.
The man she accused of assault wasn’t just anyone—he was a Member of the Legislative Assembly. Someone whose name held enough weight in Unnao to shut doors, mute police officers, and make files disappear. Her nightmare didn’t end that day. It had only started.
For months, she attempted to file a report, naming those involved and giving detailed statements. But the police initially refused to register the case against Sengar. After attempting to file multiple FIRs, she and her family were faced with constant harassment and intimidation by police and local officials.
Eventually, her father, who had been relentlessly seeking justice, was arrested after an altercation with Sengar’s men. While in custody, he sustained severe injuries and was beaten so badly that he died. The post-mortem revealed 19 wounds, but officials claimed it was the result of a scuffle—a claim that didn’t align with the extent of the damage.
In April 2018, desperate to be heard, she tried to immolate herself outside the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s residence, seeking protection and justice. It was only after this that the case gained wider attention in 2018. What followed was a pattern we’ve seen too often: delay, denial, and the destruction of evidence.
Sengar was finally arrested, but by then, the survivor and her family had already been forced into hiding. Just when it seemed the case might finally move forward, tragedy struck. In 2019, a truck collided with her car, killing two of her family members and leaving her and her lawyer in critical condition. The truck’s license plate had been painted black, and crucial CCTV footage disappeared, raising serious doubts about the accident’s nature.
In July 2019, the Supreme Court took Suo moto cognizance—essentially stepping in on its own—after receiving a letter from the survivor’s family reporting threats against them. To prevent any tampering with evidence, the Chief Justice-led bench transferred the case to the CBI Court in Delhi, following the family’s request for protection from intimidation by the accused. The court also directed the CBI to complete the investigation into the road crash within two weeks. The Uttar Pradesh government was ordered to provide Rs. 25 lakhs in compensation to the survivor, and Central Reserve Police Force security was arranged for her, her family, and her lawyer.
After two years of struggle, Sengar was convicted in December 2019 and sentenced to life in prison.
But here’s the part no conviction can undo: the damage was already done.
This was a girl who was forced to not only grieve the loss of her father and two other family members, but also her sense of safety. She had to plead simply to be heard. This case is a reminder that justice delayed is justice denied. It exposes deep-rooted issues of power—who is protected, and who is left behind within the system.
Sources:
Indian Express. (2019, December 21). Kuldeep Singh Sengar gets life sentence in Unnao rape case. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/unnao-rape-case-kuldeep-sengar-to-learn-quantum-of-sentence-at-2-pm-6176526/
Legal Services India. (n.d.). Unnao rape case. https://www.legalservicesindia.com/law/article/1348/9/UNNAO-RAPE-CASE
Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). 2017 Unnao rape case. Wikipedia. Retrieved June 2, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Unnao_rape_case
Indian Express. (2019, December 17). 2017 Unnao rape case: CBI seeks maximum punishment for Sengar. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kuldeep-singh-sengar-2017-unnao-rape-case-quantum-of-sentence-cbi-6171463/
Indian Express. (2024, December 6). Unnao rape case: Delhi HC grants 2 weeks interim bail to former BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar on medical grounds. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/unnao-rape-case-delhi-hc-grants-2-weeks-interim-bail-to-former-bjp-mla-kuldeep-sengar-9707809/
Indian Express. (2025, January 21). Unnao rape case: Delhi HC asks ex-MLA Kuldeep Sengar, out on bail for over a month, to surrender. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/unnao-rape-case-delhi-hc-asks-ex-mla-kuldeep-sengar-out-on-bail-for-over-a-month-to-surrender-9789892/
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