HC stays murder conviction of man who wants to contest Uttar Pradesh polls on BJP ticket

What happened: The Allahabad High Court stayed the murder conviction and life sentence of Nandan Lal Rai alias Babloo Rai, who wants to contest the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections as an independent or "if possible" on the BJP ticket. Key numbers: October 5 order; convicted in April 2025 for a 2017 murder; temple inaugurated January 2024. Why it matters: The court said a common citizen's right to livelihood is no less important than a politician's right to contest, and stayed the conviction so Rai can survive pending the final verdict.

The Allahabad High Court stayed the murder conviction and life sentence of Nandan Lal Rai alias Babloo Rai, who wants to contest the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections as an independent or "if possible" on the BJP ticket.

The court said a common citizen's right to livelihood is no less important than a politician's right to contest, and stayed the conviction so Rai can survive pending the final verdict.