Overview
- A bench of Justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar issued the order on December 23 and tentatively listed the rape conviction appeal for January 16, 2026.
- Bail conditions include a Rs 15 lakh personal bond with three sureties, a ban on entering a five-kilometre radius of the survivor’s home, residence in Delhi, weekly police reporting, and surrender of passport.
- The court applied a pre-2019 reading of the POCSO Act that lowered the applicable minimum term and noted Sengar has served over seven years, holding that perceived threat alone could not justify denying suspension under Section 389 CrPC.
- The survivor protested in Delhi, was briefly detained, and alleged forceful removal and manhandling, while police and CRPF officials said the gatherings lacked permission and protesters were relocated.
- Judges directed continuation of CRPF cover and asked the area DCP to ensure security, as the survivor said protection for family and witnesses had been withdrawn and announced she will move the Supreme Court.