Unnao rape: Lawyer warned for posting court proceedings on social media

A local court in Delhi on Saturday (October 5) cross-examined the mother of the Unnao rape survivor in connection with the custodial death of her father. The hearing, however, could not be completed as the counsel of one of the accused did not appear before the court. The matter is now slated for October 9.

Pursuant to the survivor’s mother’s cross-examination, her sister will be questioned in the court.

Expelled BJP legislator Kuldeep Singh Sengar is accused of raping the woman in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh in 2017. Following this, her father was arrested in March 2018 for allegedly possessing illegal arms. The man died six days later while in custody.

The court of district judge Dharmesh Sharma also pulled up the counsel for one of the parties in the Unnao rape case, allegedly involving expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh, for posting on social media the details of the in-camera proceedings of the case pertaining to the alleged murder of the victim’s father.

ALSO READ: Unnao case: Apple told to disclose Sengar’s location on day of rape

Judge Sharma also warned the counsel against posting online the proceedings of the case, which is presently at the stage of the recording of prosecution evidence.

The warning came when the counsel for the other party, during the in-camera proceedings, claimed his opponents counsel has been posting details of the proceedings, including those of the ongoing recording of the evidence, on social media, said a lawyer privy to the matter.

Judge Sharma, who held the proceeding today on a local holiday with the Delhi High Court’s permission, asked the counsel to submit the details of the Facebook posts pertaining to case, the lawyer said.

The court also directed the CBI to clarify its stand on the issue and put up the matter for further proceedings on October 9.

The court was hearing the case of the alleged assault and murder of the rape victims father in judicial custody on April 9, 2018. The court has framed charges against expelled BJP MLA Sengar, his brother Atul Sengar and nine others in the case.

ALSO READ: Unnao case: Temporary court set up at AIIMS to record statement of survivor

The woman was allegedly raped by the MLA in 2017, when she was a minor. The court has also framed charges against him in the rape case.

The court had earlier observed that the accused carried out a series of acts to detain and silence him so that he does not pursue his complaint.

(With inputs from agencies)