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A Delhi court on Monday while issuing directions on an application filed by Unnao rape survivor against the alleged harassment by the personal security that has been provided to her, said that the applicant should go out only when necessary until the case is over.

The District and Sessions Judge Dharmesh Sharma added that the applicant will also inform her personal security officers before going out.

In compliance of the Apex Court’s order of 2019, the applicant has been provided security by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) following the incident. The Apex court had directed that the survivor, her mother, and other members of the family be provided security by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

The applicant urged before the court that the security personals have been curtailing her movements and not allowing her to enjoy her liberties.

To this, the District and Sessions Judge said that the survivor and her personal security officers have to agree to amicably resolve the issue.

However, taking note of her submissions, the judge ordered,

"Inform them (security officers) before going out. They are deputed for your security. You must plan in a way that you don't have to venture out every day. Go out only when necessary. You must take precautions until the case is over."

“For now, the prosecutrix is impressed upon to ensure that whenever she or family members wish to go outside Delhi in connection with any pending case, they would communicate it to CRPF Assistant Commandant so that proper security arrangements and escorts could be made,” the Court added.

Considering the ongoing legal battle at multiple places, the court further stated,

“Likewise, in case she (the applicant) or family members wish to meet their counsel for the pending cases, they would make sincere efforts to inform the schedule a day before.”

Matter in Brief

The applicant, aged 17 years at the time of the crime, was kidnapped on June 4, 2017, in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh.

Following the incident, two chargesheets had been filed in the case. The first charge, filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation on 11 July 2018, accused Kuldeep Singh Sengar, a former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Uttar Pradesh, of the rape. The second was filed two days later accusing Sengar, his brother, three policemen, and five other individuals of framing the rape survivor's father as the perpetrator.

The main accused and his accomplices were arrested on April 13. On December 20, 2019, Sengar was sentenced to jail for the "remainder of his natural biological life in the rape case.

The Tis Hazari Court of Delhi also sentenced Sengar and six others to 10 years imprisonment for the death of Unnao rape survivor's father.

[With inputs from Free Press Journal]

Picture credits: Deccan Herald