On February 9, 2026, the Supreme Court asked the Delhi High Court to fast-track the appeal filed by former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar. Sengar is challenging his conviction and 10-year jail term for the custodial death of the father of an Unnao rape survivor. Earlier, the High Court rejected his bail and suspension requests on January 19, 2026. The Court cited his life sentence for raping the victim as a key reason. Senior advocate Siddharth Dave told the Supreme Court that Sengar has already served seven years and six months in the custodial death case. The High Court had not suspended his sentence and kept the appeal pending, scheduling a final hearing on February 11. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, said the appeal is set for final hearing on February 11. The Supreme Court asked the Delhi High Court to hear and decide the matter within three months. The Court also suggested hearing a related petition from the victim's family challenging the sentence so both appeals can be decided together. Chief Justice Surya Kant told Mr. Dave that it is “highly debatable” if remission applies here since the offence involves moral turpitude. Mr. Dave replied that remission is sometimes given in murder cases after 14 years. The Chief Justice noted the difference between murder without premeditation and this case. The Court said it does not want to intervene as the appeal is already listed for final hearing. It highlighted that sentence suspension depends on how long the appeal decision takes. Since the hearing is scheduled soon, no suspension was given. Chief Justice Kant emphasized the legal right to a speedy hearing for all, even for “heinous and dreaded criminals.” Mr. Mehta referred to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack convict Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab, who was also given his day in court. Mr. Dave responded, “I do not know why my friend is talking about Kasab. I [Sengar] was a sitting MLA.”