In April 2018 two rape cases set off protests across India: the abduction, rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl from the nomadic Bakarwal community in Kathua district, Jammu, and a teenager's accusation of rape against BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh. Congress president Rahul Gandhi led a midnight candlelight march at India Gate on 12 April, two BJP ministers in Jammu and Kashmir resigned after attending a rally backing the Kathua accused, and on 22 April the Centre brought in the death penalty for the rape of girls under 12. Six men were convicted in the Kathua case in June 2019 and Sengar was jailed for life in December 2019; no final ruling on the appeals in either case had been reported by October 2026.
Key takeaways
- The Jammu and Kashmir Crime Branch said an eight-year-old Bakarwal girl was held in a Kathua village temple in January 2018, drugged, raped and killed to frighten Bakarwal nomads into leaving.
- Lawyers protested as the Kathua chargesheet was filed on 9 April 2018, and BJP ministers Choudhary Lal Singh and Chander Prakash Ganga resigned on 13 April after attending a Hindu Ekta Manch meeting that backed the accused.
- In Unnao, a teenager who accused BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar of rape tried to set herself on fire outside the Chief Minister's residence on 8 April 2018; her father died in custody the next day and the CBI arrested Sengar on 13 April.
- An ordinance of 22 April 2018 allowed the death penalty for the rape of girls under 12. Six Kathua accused were convicted in June 2019 and Sengar got life in December 2019; appeals were still being heard in 2026.
Background: the two cases
This page does not name either survivor or their families.
Kathua. The girl went missing on 10 January 2018 while grazing horses near Rasana village, and her body was recovered from the forest a week later, on 17 January. The state government handed the case to the Crime Branch in late January (PTI gives 23 January; a later report gives 27 January). The Crime Branch arrested eight people, including two special police officers (SPOs) and a head constable PTI via Business Standard The Wire.
Documented According to the chargesheet, the girl was held in a small village temple run by Sanji Ram, a former revenue official, kept sedated for four days, raped and then killed. Police said the crime was "pre-planned" to frighten Bakarwal nomads and drive them out of the area PTI via Business Standard PTI via DT Next.
Unnao. A teenager (reported as 16 or 17) alleged that Kuldeep Singh Sengar, the four-time BJP MLA from Bangarmau, raped her on 4 June 2017 when she went to his house to ask for a job. In February 2018 her family went to court to have him named. Her father was booked under the Arms Act on 3 April and jailed on 5 April Outlook Al Jazeera.
On 8 April she tried to set herself on fire outside Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's residence in Lucknow, saying police had refused to register her case. Her father died in judicial custody on 9 April. In a video aired on TV, he alleged he had been beaten by the MLA's brother and others in front of police. The post-mortem listed 14 injuries, according to NDTV as cited by The Wire The Wire.
The rallies for the Kathua accused
Soon after the arrests, residents of Kathua formed the Hindu Ekta Manch and marched with the national flag to demand the release of the accused. After criticism, including from the Chief Minister, they changed their demand to a CBI inquiry. On 27 February Rasana villagers moved to Hiranagar in protest, alleging harassment and mass detentions by the Crime Branch. Ministers Lal Singh and Chander Prakash Ganga visited them and backed the call for a CBI probe PTI via Business Standard.
Women relatives of the accused began an indefinite hunger strike on 31 March. The Jammu High Court Bar Association (JHCBA) went on strike from 5 April with demands including a CBI probe PTI via Business Standard. On 11 April its bandh shut markets, shops and schools in Jammu, with effects in Kathua, Samba and Udhampur; officials told PTI it was peaceful The Quint.
The lawyers said their demand was not communal. JHCBA president BS Slathia said, "We are pained as much as anyone else about the death of the 8-year-old child and we want justice for her." The victim's lawyer, Deepika Singh Rajawat, backed the Crime Branch probe and alleged Slathia had threatened her, which he denied The Quint.
The chargesheet stand-off, 9 April
Claim · Kathua district judge In a report on 10 April, the Principal District and Sessions Judge of Kathua wrote that 40 to 50 lawyers protested as the Crime Branch team arrived, the seven accused "could not be produced in the court", and the team was advised to come to the Chief Judicial Magistrate's residence at 8 pm, where the chargesheet was filed. The Bar president said that evening its agitation "proved successful" The Wire.
Claim · Kathua Bar Mahajan later told The Quint the lawyers "never wanted to keep the crime branch from filing the chargesheet". The Crime Branch SSP told the same outlet his team reached the magistrate's office but could not get the photocopies from the car "because of the commotion" The Quint. Police registered a case against the lawyers The Quint.
On 13 April the Supreme Court said "lawyers must not obstruct justice". On 26 April a Bar Council of India team told the court there was no record that lawyers stopped the chargesheet and said the CBI demand "seems to be justified". The Jammu and Kashmir High Court's affidavit said the district judge's report "confirmed that obstruction was caused by advocates" The Wire.
The protests and the India Gate march
Close to midnight on Thursday, 12 April, Rahul Gandhi led a candlelight march at India Gate with Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Congress leaders. He had tweeted: "India simply cannot continue to treat its women the way it does." At India Gate he called it "a national issue, not a political matter" and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to put the Beti Bachao slogan into practice Scroll. Scroll put the crowd at hundreds; SheThePeople reported thousands and said roads to India Gate were closed to vehicles SheThePeople.
On Sunday, 15 April, marches were held in Delhi's Parliament Street, Mumbai's Carter Road, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Bhopal, Indore, Ajmer, Surat, Goa and Thiruvananthapuram, with placards demanding justice Anadolu Agency. No deaths, serious injuries or mass arrests were reported at these protests in the sources reviewed.
Timeline
Kathua girl found dead
A week after she went missing PTI.
Unnao protest and custodial death
Self-immolation bid outside the CM's house; her father dies in custody Outlook.
Chargesheet stand-off and Jammu bandh
Chargesheet filed at the magistrate's home; lawyers shut Jammu two days later The Quint.
India Gate march, arrest, resignations
The CBI takes the Unnao case and arrests Sengar on the High Court's direction; two J&K ministers resign; Modi speaks PTI Outlook Scroll.
Ordinance signed
Death penalty for rape of girls under 12 Scroll.
Kathua trial moved to Pathankot
By the Supreme Court LiveLaw.
Verdicts
Six convicted in Kathua on 10 June; Sengar jailed for life on 20 December Scroll.
Both accounts
Protesters' and victims' families' account
Protesters said the cases showed how unsafe girls were; one told Anadolu that politicians were "discriminating on the basis of religion" Anadolu Agency. Rahul Gandhi asked, "How can anyone protect the culprits of such evil?" and the opposition criticised the Prime Minister's silence Scroll. In Unnao, the complainant alleged that her father was killed "at the behest of the BJP MLA" The Wire.
Accused, counter-protesters and BJP account
The Hindu Ekta Manch and Jammu lawyers said they wanted a CBI probe, not to shield anyone, and questioned the Crime Branch's methods The Quint. The state BJP questioned the record of one member of the investigating team PTI. Sengar called the case "a conspiracy hatched by my political opponents" and said he was ready to face any probe The Wire.
Positions of the governments and the BJP
- J&K government's position Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti (PDP) rejected the CBI demand on 8 March, saying the probe was over 95% complete PTI. In mid-April she dismissed the four accused policemen and asked the High Court for a fast-track court to finish the trial in 90 days PTI via The Peninsula.
- BJP's position (J&K) On 14 April BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said the two ministers had gone "to pacify the people" but their presence "was mistaken for trying to shield the accused", calling it "indiscretion" PTI via The Peninsula. Ganga said the state party chief had sent them to the rally The Quint. Governor NN Vohra accepted the resignations on 16 April Kashmir Life. On 17 April Lal Singh led a rally for a CBI probe and said, "We have not done anything wrong" Outlook.
- UP government's position On 12 April, the Advocate General told the High Court he could not say whether the state would arrest Sengar and that police would act after recording statements PTI via Business Standard. The state referred the case to the CBI that day. At least six policemen were suspended Al Jazeera.
- BJP's position (UP) Then state BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey said, "We will take action if he (Senger) is convicted by the court." The BJP expelled Sengar on 1 August 2019, after a road crash that killed two of the complainant's aunts Deccan Herald.
- Centre's position On 13 April Modi said, "I want to assure the country that no culprit will be spared, complete justice will be done. Our daughters will definitely get justice" Scroll.
The death penalty ordinance
The Union Cabinet approved the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2018 at an emergency meeting on 21 April, and President Ram Nath Kovind signed it on 22 April. It amended the IPC, the Evidence Act, the CrPC and the POCSO Act. It allowed death for the rape of girls under 12, raised the minimum for the rape of a girl under 16 from 10 to 20 years, removed anticipatory bail in such cases, and set two months each for investigation and trial Scroll Gulf News. Parliament replaced it with the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act; the Rajya Sabha passed it by voice vote on 6 August 2018 IANS via Business Standard.
Outcome
- Kathua trial: On 7 May 2018 the Supreme Court moved the trial to Pathankot, to be held in camera, day to day, under the Ranbir Penal Code LiveLaw.
- Kathua verdict: On 10 June 2019 Judge Tejwinder Singh convicted Sanji Ram, SPO Deepak Khajuria and Parvesh Kumar of murder and gang rape (life terms) and three policemen of destroying evidence (five years). Sanji Ram's son was acquitted on benefit of doubt The Quint Madhyamam.
- Accused claimed to be a juvenile: On 16 November 2022 the Supreme Court held that the accused claimed to be a juvenile was an adult and must be tried as one The Wire.
- Unnao rape: On 20 December 2019, Delhi District Judge Dharmesh Sharma sentenced Sengar to life and ordered Rs 25 lakh compensation; a woman co-accused was acquitted Scroll.
- Custodial death: On 13 March 2020 Sengar, his brother and five others got 10 years for culpable homicide not amounting to murder; the judge said the crime "does not call for leniency" Onmanorama Tribune.
Appeals and where things stand
Kathua. The Punjab and Haryana High Court admitted the convicts' appeals in July 2019 Tribune. The victim's family sought the death penalty and challenged the acquittal; that plea was still pending in December 2021, when two policemen were bailed Outlook. On 6 March 2026 the High Court refused to suspend Sanji Ram's life sentence and listed his appeal for final hearing in September 2026 PTI via DT Next Daily Excelsior. No ruling on the appeals was found in the sources reviewed.
Unnao. On 23 December 2025 the Delhi High Court suspended Sengar's life sentence, holding that an MLA was not a "public servant" for the POCSO Act's aggravated offence. The complainant and her mother protested at India Gate that evening and were dragged away and held at a police station for about an hour Scroll Tribune. The Supreme Court stayed that order on 29 December and set it aside on 15 May 2026, asking the High Court to decide the appeal, preferably within three months IANS. In the custodial death case, the High Court refused to suspend his sentence on 19 January 2026 and the appeals moved to a new bench on 23 July 2026 ANI via LatestLY. No final judgment on either appeal was found.
Questions people ask
What was the Kathua rape case?
The abduction, rape and murder of an eight-year-old Bakarwal girl in Kathua, Jammu, in January 2018. Eight people, including policemen, were charged and six convicted in June 2019.
Why did two BJP ministers resign over Kathua?
Choudhary Lal Singh and Chander Prakash Ganga attended a Hindu Ekta Manch meeting that backed the accused and sought a CBI probe. They resigned on 13 April 2018. The BJP said their presence was mistaken for shielding the accused.
What happened to Kuldeep Singh Sengar?
Arrested by the CBI in April 2018 and expelled by the BJP in August 2019, he was jailed for life for rape in December 2019 and for 10 years over the custodial death in March 2020. His appeals are pending.
Did Sengar get bail in 2025?
The Delhi High Court suspended his life sentence on 23 December 2025. The Supreme Court stayed that order six days later and set it aside in May 2026.
What law changed after Kathua and Unnao?
An ordinance signed on 22 April 2018, made law in August 2018, allowed the death penalty for the rape of girls under 12 and raised minimum sentences for rape.
Sources
- Scroll: Rahul Gandhi leads midnight candlelight march to protest crimes against women, 13 Apr 2018
- SheThePeople: Thousands throng India Gate to protest Kathua, Unnao rape cases, Apr 2018
- PTI via Business Standard: Charge sheet in Kathua rape and murder case to be filed next week, 8 Apr 2018
- The Quint: Why is the Bar protecting the Kathua rape accused? asks counsel, 11 Apr 2018
- The Quint: Are Kathua lawyers protecting the rape accused?, 16 Apr 2018
- The Wire: Bar Council ignored proof to say lawyers didn't obstruct Kathua chargesheet, 30 Apr 2018
- PTI via The Peninsula: Resignation of Kashmir ministers accepted, 14 Apr 2018
- The Quint: Party sent us to Kathua rally, says BJP minister who resigned, 14 Apr 2018
- Kashmir Life: Vohra accepts resignations of 2 ministers, 16 Apr 2018
- Outlook: Resigned BJP minister Lal Singh takes out rally for CBI probe, 17 Apr 2018
- Outlook: Accused BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar arrested by CBI, 13 Apr 2018
- PTI via Business Standard: Arrest MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, Allahabad High Court directs CBI, 13 Apr 2018
- The Wire: Allahabad High Court orders arrest of Unnao BJP MLA, 13 Apr 2018
- Al Jazeera: BJP legislator Kuldeep Singh Sengar arrested in rape case, 15 Apr 2018
- Scroll: Modi says Kathua, Unnao rapes cannot be part of a civilised society, 13 Apr 2018
- Anadolu Agency: Countrywide protests erupt over rape incidents, 15 Apr 2018
- Scroll: President signs ordinance to allow death penalty for child rapists, 22 Apr 2018
- Gulf News: President okays ordinance for death to child rapists, 22 Apr 2018
- IANS via Business Standard: Parliament passes Bill for stringent punishment in rape cases, 6 Aug 2018
- LiveLaw: SC transfers Kathua trial to Pathankot, 7 May 2018
- The Quint: Six guilty, one acquitted in Kathua case, 10 Jun 2019
- Madhyamam: Kathua 'juvenile' accused's trial to start after SC order, 20 Nov 2022
- The Wire: SC sets aside order which declared one Kathua accused juvenile, 16 Nov 2022
- Tribune: HC admits appeal in Kathua case, 2 Jul 2019
- Outlook/PTI: Parents of Kathua victim anguished as convicts out on bail, 26 Dec 2021
- PTI via DT Next: HC dismisses Kathua mastermind's plea for suspension of life sentence, 18 Mar 2026
- Daily Excelsior: Kathua rape-murder: HC dismisses Sanji Ram's plea, 19 Mar 2026
- Deccan Herald: BJP expels Unnao rape accused Kuldeep Singh Sengar, 1 Aug 2019
- Scroll: Kuldeep Singh Sengar sentenced to life in jail, 20 Dec 2019
- Onmanorama: Sengar gets 10-year jail term in custodial death case, 13 Mar 2020
- Tribune: Delhi HC dismisses Sengar's plea to suspend sentence in death case, 19 Jan 2026
- Scroll: Unnao rape complainant, mother stopped from protesting against ex-BJP MLA's bail, 24 Dec 2025
- Tribune: SC stays Delhi HC order granting bail to Sengar, 29 Dec 2025
- IANS: SC sets aside Delhi HC order suspending Sengar's sentence, 15 May 2026
- ANI via LatestLY: Delhi HC transfers Sengar's custodial death appeals to another bench, 23 Jul 2026