TNI Bureau: In a big relief to former Union Minister Dilip Ray, Delhi High Court on Monday stayed his conviction in coal scam case, enabling him to contest in the upcoming General elections 2024.
The conviction if not suspended would lead to an irreversible consequence if he’s acquitted at a later stage, observed Delhi High Court.
The HC also directed that Dilip Ray’s conviction shall stand stayed during the pendency of the present appeal.
The HC also clarified that order doesn’t amount to acquittal but merely suspension of Conviction in peculiar circumstances of the case.
Dilip Ray had urged the Delhi High Court on Friday to stay his conviction by a trial court in a scam case pertaining to irregularities in the allocation of a Jharkhand coal block in 1999, saying that he wishes to contest the upcoming General elections in Odisha.
Ray continues to be without any party affiliation since he quit the BJP in November 2018 and resigned as the MLA.
It’s believed that he would join the BJP and contest the assembly polls from Rourkela.