Murder convict BJP man wishes to contest in polls: HC stays conviction

Prayagraj: In Uttar Pradesh, a BJP worker convicted in a murder case has expressed his wish to contest the 2027 Assembly election, and the Allahabad High Court has stayed his conviction, according to reports.

A division bench of Justices Siddharth and Vinai Kumar Dwivedi granted bail to Nandlal Rai alias Babloo Rai and stayed his conviction and sentence pending his appeal. In its October 5 order, the court noted that Rai had been politically active and worked for the Bharatiya Janata Party before his conviction in 2025.

Rai reportedly wishes to contest the election as an independent candidate or, if possible, on a BJP ticket. The court considered his political ambitions when examining his request to suspend the conviction, noting the importance of both his livelihood and his right to contest elections.

Rai was convicted by a Varanasi sessions court in connection with a murder case registered at Sigra police station in 2017. The victim, Pramod Kumar Nigam, was an active member of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. Rai, who was associated with gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, was accused of killing Nigam following a minor dispute.

Seeking relief, Rai argued that his name was absent from the initial first information report and that his alleged involvement was disclosed only around 17 days after the FIR was registered. His counsel maintained that the case rested on suspicion and conjecture.

The High Court also referred to a 2023 Supreme Court judgment in Afjal Ansari vs State of Uttar Pradesh, which dealt with the suspension of convictions of public representatives and the electoral consequences of disqualification.

Rai’s conviction and sentence will remain stayed while his appeal is pending.

Based on The New Indian Express report.