The high court on Friday stayed the imprisonment of Umesh Ravate, son of Shiv Sena MLC Diwakar Ravate, for cutting a tree in 2005.
Justice Rekha Sondur-Baldota however granted him bail of Rs 10,000.
On July 26, 2005 when Mumbai was submerged, Umesh had cut a drumsticks tree at Shindewadi in Dadar. A complaint was lodged against Umesh with the civic body’s tree authority.
Prima facie being satisfied that Umesh had cut the tree, the corporation filed a compliant with the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Naigaum at Dadar.
In August 2007, the JMFC found convicted Umesh. He was sentenced to undergo a simple imprisonment of 21 days. Besides, he was also fined Rs 2,000.
Umesh challenged his conviction in Sessions court.
The Sessions court too found him guilty and upheld the conviction imposed by the JMFC.
Aggrieved, Umesh approached the high court, challenging his conviction.