Allahabad High Court Continues Conviction of Murder Convict Who Wants to Contest 2027 Polls

Image is for representational purposes only. | Photo credit: The Hindu

The Allahabad High Court has quashed the conviction and sentence of a man convicted in a 2017 murder case after it noted that he wished to contest the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections either as an independent candidate or preferably on a BJP ticket.

A two-judge bench comprising Justice Siddharth and Justice Vinai Kumar Dwivedi passed the order to hear the criminal appeal filed by Nandla Rai alias Babloo Rai, who was convicted by the Varanasi Sessions Court in 2025 in connection with the 2017 murder case registered at Sigra police station.

The court granted bail to the appellant, noting that he was a political figure and an active worker of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) before his conviction.

“Keeping in mind the right to livelihood of the common man, which is no less important than the right to challenge the election of a politician, the conviction and sentence of the appellant deserves to be stayed so that he may survive to hear the final verdict in his above appeal,” the court added.

In the October 5 order, the high court referred to the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Afjal Ansari Vs. State of Uttar Pradesh to note that the Supreme Court stayed the conviction of a number of members of the public, holding that “politicians have special duties towards their constituents and failure to secure permanent conviction may result in loss of opportunity to challenge elections/legislators and grant of stay”.

Accused-complainant sought bail and stay of sentencing on the ground that he was not named in the FIR and that his alleged involvement was made public only about 17 days after the FIR was lodged.

The case related to the murder of Pramod Kumar Nigam, an active member of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. The accused-appellant was associated with gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari and allegedly murdered Nigam over a minor dispute.

During the hearing, his counsel also argued that Nigam, the deceased, was politically active and Rai was implicated only on suspicion and conjecture.

After considering the submissions of the parties and the circumstances of the case, the High Court said that the appellant’s conviction and sentence deserved to be stayed during the pendency of the appeal.

Published – 20 October 2026 03:30 IST