HC suspends sentence, grants bail to disqualified BJP MLA Vikram Saini

PRAYAGRAJ: The Allahabad high court has suspended the sentence awarded by a lower court to disqualified BJP MLA Vikram Saini in a 2013 Muzaffarnagar riot case. The court also granted him bail in the same case.

Special judge, MP/MLA court, Muzaffarnagar had on October 11, 2022 sentenced Saini, who was elected MLA from Khatauli in Muzaffarnagar, and 10 others to two years’ imprisonment in a case relating to the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots.

After a month, the Uttar Pradesh assembly had declared his seat as vacant, for which the bypoll is scheduled on December 5. Hearing a criminal appeal filed by Vikram Saini, Justice Samit Gopal on Friday said, “Prayer for bail/suspension of sentence is allowed.”

The MP/MLA court of Muzaffarnagar had convicted and sentenced Saini for the offence under Indian Penal Code sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of other), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provide breach of peace), 506 (criminal intimidation) and others. Earlier, the court had acquitted all the accused of the charge of attempt to murder.Saini had challenged his conviction and sentence before the high court by filing the present criminal appeal.

Saini’s counsel took the plea that there is no credible evidence against him. He further contended that there is no public witness to support the prosecution case. Further, it is a case of no injury.

On the other hand, the state government’s counsel opposed the suspension of sentence.In the present order, the high court directed Saini’s release on bail on his furnishing a personal bond with two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the court concerned.