Bhubaneswar: The Delhi High Court on Monday stayed the conviction of former Union minister Dilip Ray in a coal scam case, paving the way for him to contest the upcoming Odisha assembly and parliamentary elections.
Ray was awarded three years of imprisonment on October 26, 2020 in a case pertaining to irregularities in the allocation of Brahmadiha coal block in Jharkhand’s Giridih district to CTL in 1999.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma allowed Ray’s application in which he sought a stay on the conviction and said if the conviction is not suspended, it would lead to an irreversible consequence in case he is acquitted at a later stage.
“In case the applicant’s (Ray) prayer is not allowed, he will lose chance to contest election and an irreversible consequence and irreversible damage to his political career and desire to serve his constituency will be caused to him….,” the court said.
The high court further made it clear that Ray’s conviction in the case shall stand stayed during the pendency of his appeal against his conviction and sentence by the trial court.
Ray was sentenced to three years in jail on October 26, 2020 by a trial court which had also imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on him.
Ray, 71, was Minister of State (coal) in the erstwhile Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. He said in his petition that he wishes to contest the upcoming Odisha Assembly elections and this could be his last chance to serve the people.
