Allahabad High Court Grants Bail to Ex-MP Dhananjay Singh, Upholds Seven-Year Sentence in Kidnapping & Extortion Case

In a recent ruling, the High Court of Allahabad has granted bail to former Member of Parliament (MP) Dhananjay Singh, albeit refusing to suspend or stay the seven-year imprisonment sentence handed down by a district court in connection with a 2020 kidnapping and extortion case. The decision, delivered on Saturday, marks a significant development in the legal proceedings surrounding Singh’s involvement in the criminal case.

Following the High Court’s order, Singh is set to be released on bail; however, he will remain barred from contesting elections. This decision comes in the wake of a March 6 sentencing by the MP-MLA Court in Jaunpur, where Singh and his associate, Santosh Vikram, were both sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for their roles in the kidnapping and extortion of Namami Gange project manager, Abhinav Singhal.

The criminal appeal filed by the former MP and his associate on April 24 was heard by Justice Sanjay Kumar Singh, who subsequently reserved the order. This appeal sought to challenge the judgement delivered by the special judge of Jaunpur MP/MLA Court on March 6, which had resulted in Singh’s conviction and sentencing.

The timing of these legal proceedings holds political significance, as Singh’s wife, Srikala Reddy, is currently contesting elections from the Jaunpur parliamentary constituency on the ticket of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Singh himself had purportedly been gearing up to contest the Lok Sabha elections from the Jaunpur seat; however, his conviction rendered him ineligible to participate in the electoral process.

As the legal battle continues to unfold, the implications of the High Court’s decision on Singh’s political career and the electoral landscape in Jaunpur remain to be seen. The granting of bail, coupled with the upholding of the seven-year sentence, underscores the complexities and consequences of the criminal case against the former MP. With ongoing legal proceedings and electoral dynamics at play, the public awaits further developments in this high-profile case.

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