NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned the hearing on a plea filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) challenging the bail granted to expelled Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case.
Due to the non-availability of Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, a Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi deferred the hearing and said that the matter would be taken up after two weeks.
At the same time, the apex court allowed the impleadment application filed by the rape survivor, observing that she has a right to be heard in the CBI’s special leave petition (SLP).
However, the CJI-led Bench declined to entertain an intervention application filed by the survivor’s cousin seeking protection on the ground of threat to his life and liberty if Sengar were granted bail.
Observing that the applicant ought to avail an independent remedy, the Supreme Court remarked that the plea seeking protection could be pursued before the jurisdictional High Court.