Unnao case: Rape-accused MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar continues to have arms licence

He is an accused of raping a teenage girl and killing her two family members. Yet, expelled BJP legislator from Uttar Pradesh Kuldeep Singh Sengar possesses his arms licence. The reason: The delay in the judicial process, say the police. "The cancellation of the arms licence is a judicial matter and not administrative. A decision on it can only be taken after (the court) hearing both the parties," District Magistrate Divendra Kumar Pandey said.

"The police has filed its report in connection with the cancellation of the licence and the MLA's lawyer has also filed a reply on behalf of Sengar. Since lawyers had been on strike, hearing could not take place. Now a decision will be taken," he said.

Sengar has licence to possess a single barrel gun, a rifle and a revolver.

The MLA from Bangermau in Unnao district was arrested by the CBI on April 13, 2018 and is lodged in Sitapur district jail. The process to cancel his gun licence is on since.

The woman, allegedly raped by BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in 2017 when she was a minor, is battling for life after a truck rammed into the car she was travelling in with some family members and her lawyer. Two of her aunts died in the accident last Sunday.

Her family alleges that the collision was a deliberate attempt to kill her by those close to the MLA.

The apex court also directed shifting of the rape victim's uncle from Raebareli jail to Tihar and deferred the matter for further order on Monday.

His wife was in the ill-fated car and had died in the accident. He participated in her cremation on Wednesday after the Allahabad High Court granted him parole for a day.

He has been convicted in a 19-year-old case and sentenced to 10 years jail term on a case filed by Sengar's brother, Atul Singh.

The apex court also directed all media houses not to disclose the identity of the victim directly, indirectly, or in any manner.

During the brief hearing, the Uttar Pradesh government informed the bench that the interim compensation of Rs 25 lakh has already been released to the victim's family.

The Supreme Court has deferred hearing in the rape case for Monday.

(With PTI inputs)