New Delhi [India], December 29 (ANI): The mother of the survivor expressed gratitude to the Supreme Court for suspending the life sentence of expelled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case of a minor girl.

Expressing her happiness over the Supreme Court's decision, the mother demanded justice for her daughter and appealed for the death sentence of the expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 case.

'We are very happy. We want to thank the Supreme Court. My daughter should get justice. I want the accused to be given a death sentence...,' said the mother.

Hemant Kumar Maurya, an advocate representing the victim's side in the case, stated that the Supreme Court has issued a strong order to the lower courts, declaring that the accused will not be released from jail under any circumstances. The advocate further added that unless the opposition files a counter-affidavit, the expelled BJP leader would not receive any relief from jail.

'I would like to thank the Supreme Court today. The victim also wants to express her gratitude. The Supreme Court has issued a strong order to the lower courts stating that the accused will not be released from jail in any case, and the order granting relief has been stayed. The opposition has been given time to file a counter-affidavit, and until then, he will not be released from jail under any circumstances. This is the order of the Supreme Court, and there is a stay on the High Court's order,' Maurya told reporters.

Earlier, the Supreme Court on Monday stayed the operation of the Delhi High Court order that suspended the life sentence of expelled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case of a minor girl.

The bench stayed the High Court order, noting that Sengar is in jail for another case. It said the operation of the High Court order shall be stayed, and Sengar shall not be released from prison.

'Issue notice. We have heard Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for CBI and Senior Advocate for the convict... Counter will be filed in four weeks. We are conscious of the fact that when a convict or an undertrial has been released, such orders are not ordinarily stayed by this court without hearing such persons. But in view of peculiar facts where the convict is convicted for a separate offence, we stay the operation of the Delhi High Court order dated December 23, and thus the respondent shall not be released pursuant to the said order,' ordered the bench. (ANI)