Beyond the Headlines: 3 Disturbing Truths the Unnao Rape Case Bail Decision Reveals

The bail granted to Kuldeep Singh Sengar is more than one man’s temporary freedom; it is a moment of painful clarity. It reveals the raw human cost of a justice system that feels tilted in favor of the powerful, as articulated by the survivor herself.

By Rakesh Raman
New Delhi | December 25, 2025

Introduction: A Verdict That Shakes the Conscience

The recent news that the Delhi high court granted bail to Kuldeep Singh Sengar, an expelled BJP leader serving a life sentence for the horrific 2017 Unnao rape case, is a shock to the public conscience. This decision, which temporarily suspends a life term conviction for a powerful politician, has sparked outrage and protest, sending a chilling message to victims of violent crime across the nation.

But to view this as an isolated legal ruling is to miss the point entirely. This case serves as a powerful lens, bringing into sharp focus the deeper, more troubling patterns emerging at the intersection of Indian politics, justice, and power. Beyond the immediate headlines of a convict’s release, this decision reveals profound questions about the integrity of our most vital institutions. This article explores three impactful takeaways from this case that every citizen should understand.

1. “For us, this decision is no less than ‘death’.” — The Human Cost of Injustice

The most immediate and raw impact of the court’s decision is felt by the survivor herself. In response to the news, the 25-year-old woman staged a protest in Delhi, a courageous act of defiance against a system she feels has failed her. Her reaction cuts through the legalese and political maneuvering to expose the devastating human cost when justice appears to bend for the powerful.

Her words serve as a stark testament to her fear and disillusionment, powerfully articulating the feelings of countless ordinary citizens who look to the courts for protection.

“If the convict gets bail in a case like this, how will the country’s daughters remain safe? For us, this decision is no less than ‘kaal’ (death). Those with money win, those without money lose.”

This statement is profoundly impactful because it crystallizes a terrifying perception: that in the battle for justice, financial resources and political influence are more decisive than facts and law. It transforms the verdict from an abstract legal event into a lived reality of terror for the victim and a symbol of a two-tiered justice system—one for the influential and another for everyone else.

2. The System on Trial: A Rampant “Bribe for Bail” Culture?

Sengar’s release is not being viewed in a vacuum. It is widely interpreted as a “typical ‘bribe for bail’ case,” a symptom of a trend described as rampant in Indian courts where influential figures allegedly use bribes to secure favorable rulings from judges. This perspective places the judiciary itself under intense scrutiny, suggesting a systemic erosion of ethics.

This accusation of a compromised judiciary gains traction when placed against a glaring contrast. While a convicted rapist is granted bail, other figures remain incarcerated without trial. Student leader Umar Khalid and Sikh youth leader Amritpal Singh, for example, are languishing in jail for exercising their constitutional right to free speech by speaking out against ruling regimes. This juxtaposition raises serious questions about the priorities and impartiality of the judicial process.

This apparent decline and the pervasiveness of the “bribe for bail” culture are reportedly detailed at length in the India Judicial Research Report 2025 (IJRR 2025). When a system appears to grant freedom to a convicted felon while denying it to political dissidents awaiting trial, it fundamentally damages public trust. This perceived corruption also makes the judiciary a potential tool for political theater, where controversial verdicts serve a purpose far beyond the courtroom.

3. A Political Smokescreen for a Deeper Fraud?

Beyond the judicial implications, Sengar’s release is best understood through two competing political analyses. The most straightforward explanation is that Sengar, a former BJP MLA from Uttar Pradesh, is being released to campaign for the party in an upcoming state election.

However, a more complex and cynical analysis presents the actual reason for this release. It posits that this is a deliberate political maneuver, arguing that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP does not actually need a figure like Sengar to win elections. Instead, incidents like this—controversial, high-profile, and emotionally charged—are intentionally designed to create a distraction. This smokescreen allegedly serves to hide a far greater issue: large-scale election fraud conducted through the selective manipulation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to secure key victories.

This final point is the most significant and disturbing. It shifts the narrative from a single case of judicial or political failure to a deep-seated conspiracy that questions the very foundation of India’s electoral process. It suggests that the outrage we feel is not just a byproduct of a corrupt system but a calculated tool used to obscure a more profound threat to democracy itself.

Conclusion: Where Does Justice Go from Here?

The bail granted to Kuldeep Singh Sengar is more than one man’s temporary freedom; it is a moment of painful clarity. It reveals the raw human cost of a justice system that feels tilted in favor of the powerful, as articulated by the survivor herself. It highlights allegations of a systemic “bribe for bail” culture that corrodes faith in the judiciary. And most alarmingly, it points to a political theory where such injustices are not accidents, but calculated distractions to hide an alleged assault on the democratic process itself.

These are not comfortable truths, but they are essential ones to confront. When the pillars of justice and democracy are so profoundly questioned, how can citizens reclaim their faith in the system?

By Rakesh Raman, who is a national award-winning journalist and social activist. He is the founder of a humanitarian organization RMN Foundation which is working in diverse areas to help the disadvantaged and distressed people in the society.