The Allahabad High Court has stayed the conviction and sentence of Nandlal Rai, a former Bharatiya Janata Party worker, in a 2017 murder case. The stay, issued on 5 October, permits Rai to seek election in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls either as an independent candidate or on a BJP ticket.
The two‑judge bench, led by Justice Siddharth and Justice Vinai Kumar Dwivedi, heard an appeal filed by Rai, who was convicted by the Varanasi Sessions Court in 2025. The court noted that Rai had not been named in the original FIR and that his alleged involvement was disclosed only 17 days after the complaint was lodged.
Rai’s case concerns the murder of Pramod Kumar Nigam, a prominent member of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. The accused, linked to gangster‑turned‑politician Mukhtar Ansari, allegedly killed Nigam over a minor dispute. Rai’s counsel argued that Nigam’s political activity and the lack of concrete evidence made Rai’s involvement speculative.
In its order, the court cited a 2023 Supreme Court ruling in Afjal Ansari v. State of Uttar Pradesh, which had stayed convictions of several public representatives. The High Court emphasized that politicians have a special duty to their constituents and that a conviction could deprive them of the opportunity to contest elections.
By staying the conviction and granting bail, the Allahabad High Court aims to preserve Rai’s right to livelihood and his ability to participate in the upcoming elections while his appeal proceeds. The decision underscores the judiciary’s role in balancing criminal accountability with democratic participation.
