Allahabad HC grants bail to BJP MP Kamlesh Paswan, six others in 2008 road rage case
BJP MP Kamlesh Paswan and six of his supporters have been granted bail by the Allahabad high court and a one-and-a-half-year sentence has been stayed. They had been previously convicted over a road rage incident in 2008. Paswan had challenged his conviction in the case and the court summoned lower court records before granting bail.
The Allahabad high court has granted bail to BJP MP from Bansgaon Lok Sabha seat Kamlesh Paswan and six of his supporters besides staying one-and-a-half-year sentence awarded to them by the MP/MLA court of Gorakhpur in connection with a road rage case registered against the seven in 2008.
The Bansgaon MP, who jumped the ship from Samajwadi Party (SP) to the BJP in 2012, is accused of blocking the Baba Raghav Das Medical College road in Gorakhpur against the arrest of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav 15 years ago. The case was lodged by the then in charge of Gulharia police station in Gorakhpur.
The court, while admitting the revision filed by Paswan, summoned the lower court records. The bench of Justice Rajeev Misra passed the order on April 24 (Monday) after hearing counsel for Paswan who had challenged his conviction in the case.
“Considering the facts that revisionist-applicant-1 Kamlesh Paswan is a sitting MP and the judgments and orders impugned in present criminal revision, will cast a stigma upon his political career, as such they have serious consequences. The consequences are of unverifiable character,” the court observed.
“Considering the above as well as the judgment of the Supreme Court in Navjot Singh Siddhu Vs. State of Punjab, 2007 Volume II SCC 574, it is, hereby, provided that the sentence awarded to revisionist-applicant-1 shall remain stayed during the pendency of the revision,” the court said.
{{/usCountry}}“Considering the above as well as the judgment of the Supreme Court in Navjot Singh Siddhu Vs. State of Punjab, 2007 Volume II SCC 574, it is, hereby, provided that the sentence awarded to revisionist-applicant-1 shall remain stayed during the pendency of the revision,” the court said.
{{/usCountry}}Besides Paswan, others who have been granted bail include former MLA Chandresh Paswan, former block pramukh Sunil Paswan, senior BJP leader Ram Brich Yadav Mahesh Paswan and others.
{{/usCountry}}Besides Paswan, others who have been granted bail include former MLA Chandresh Paswan, former block pramukh Sunil Paswan, senior BJP leader Ram Brich Yadav Mahesh Paswan and others.
{{/usCountry}}Earlier on April 11 this month, Special Judge, MP/MLA court, Gorakhpur Namrata Srivastav had ordered the BJP MP and his six of his supporters to surrender before the court within two weeks in connection with the 2008 case. Paswan and his six supporters moved the Allahabad high court against the order of the MP/MLA court the next day i.e. on April 12.
{{/usCountry}}Earlier on April 11 this month, Special Judge, MP/MLA court, Gorakhpur Namrata Srivastav had ordered the BJP MP and his six of his supporters to surrender before the court within two weeks in connection with the 2008 case. Paswan and his six supporters moved the Allahabad high court against the order of the MP/MLA court the next day i.e. on April 12.
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