The Delhi High Court has officially transferred the appeals concerning Kuldeep Singh Sengar and others involved in the Unnao custodial death case to the bench presided over by Justice Saurabh Banerjee. This decision was made on Thursday, July 23, after the matters were initially listed before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma. The transfer occurred owing to Justice Sharma’s current involvement with a civil matter roster.

Previously, these cases were under the purview of Justice Manoj Jain, who referred them for transfer on July 22. The referral followed a backlog of cases that prevented timely hearings. Since the roster for the judges shifted on July 1, these matters had seen delays due to a packed schedule in Justice Jain’s court.

The documentation of the arguments related to the appeals began earlier, with discussions taking place on May 15, May 19, and May 26. On the latter date, what remained of the arguments was noted, indicating active engagement from the appellant, Jaideep Singh Senger.

Hearing Developments and Procedural Notes

Justice Manoj Jain highlighted that the parties involved had been urged to submit their written arguments, limited to five pages, along with applicable case laws they intended to cite. These submissions were to be filed at least two days before the scheduled hearings, with copies provided in advance to the opposing side.

In the proceedings, an order was made to have these matters heard on July 20, 21, 22, and 23. However, due to the change in judicial roster, the cases were not placed before the respective bench for consideration. Justice Jain remarked that the matters could not be taken up on the aforementioned dates since multiple other petitions related to the ‘Land for Jobs Scam’ consumed the court’s time.

Justice Jain noted that since considerable arguments had already been presented to the earlier bench, these cases should ideally be heard by Justice Banerjee, as specified by Chief Justice orders. The intention is to sustain the momentum of the hearings and ensure legal processes are adhered to closely.

Convictions and Ongoing Appeals

Among those involved in the case are former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, along with Jaideep Singh Senger, Ashok Singh Bhadauria, Kamta Prasad, Birendra alias Bauwa Singh, and Vineet Mishra. All individuals were convicted in connection with the Unnao custodial death case, an incident that has attracted significant media attention and public scrutiny.

Kuldeep Singh Sengar is currently serving a ten-year sentence for his role in this case. Additionally, he is facing a life imprisonment sentence related to a separate minor rape conviction. Both appeals concerning the custodial death case are still pending before the Delhi High Court.

The anticipation of the next hearing will likely focus on the detailed arguments filed by the parties involved, shaping the next steps in a case that continues to resonate across various legal platforms and societal discussions in India.

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