SC Transfers Unnao Cases To Court Of Delhi District Judge Dharmesh Sharma [Read Order]

The Supreme Court on August 1, 2019, transferred four cases of crimes related to Unnao rape from a CBI Court in Lucknow to Delhi District Judge and ordered the Uttar Pradesh government to pay her Rs 25 lakh in interim compensation.

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi transferred the cases in the suo moto proceedings based on the letter by the family of Unnao rape survivor seeking protection from intimidation by accused. The mother of the survivor had approached the top court last April seeking transfer of trial outside Uttar Pradesh citing intimidation by accused.

While ordering the transfer of cases, the Bench appointed Dharmesh Sharma, District Judge, West, Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi to hold the trial in four cases related to Unnao rape.

First was the case for rape of the 17-year-old girl allegedly committed by BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar. Another case has been registered for the gang rape of the survivor, which was allegedly committed a week after the girl named Sengar.

Then a case under the Arms Act was registered against the father of the survivor. He died in police custody after he was arrested in that case. The mother of the survivor has filed a complaint that his death was due to custodial torture, and the fourth case is registered in respect of this.

The Court has ordered that trial in all these cases should be held on a day to day basis and completed within 45 days.

The Court has also transferred the case registered in respect of the road crash incident which occurred on July 28, 2019. The tragedy which took place near Rae Bareli left the Unnao rape survivor and her lawyer severely injured. Two of the survivor's aunts were killed in the incident.

[Read Order]