Former Chief Minister of Jharkhand Madhu Koda
The Delhi High Court reserved its order on a plea by former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, seeking a stay on his conviction in the coal scam case so that he can contest assembly elections in the state. During the hearing of the case, Justice Nina Bansal Krishna said written arguments have been filed by Koda and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing the case. The CBI opposed this plea.
Koda, in his plea, has sought a stay on the lower court’s December 13, 2017 order, which sentenced him to 3 years in prison. Advocates RS Cheema and Tarannum Cheema, appearing for the CBI in the court, said that a similar application filed by Koda was filed in May 2020 which was dismissed by the court. Now once again a fresh petition has been filed on his behalf seeking the same relief which is not contemplated.
Madhu Koda wants to contest assembly elections
In fact, Koda has filed this petition because under the Representation of the People Act, after being convicted of an offense and serving a sentence of two years or more, a person cannot immediately be elected as an MP, MLA or member of the State Legislative Council. MLC) as inappropriate. Along with this, a person remains ineligible to contest elections for 6 years even after release from prison. Elections are going to be held in Jharkhand in the coming days and Madhu Koda wants to contest. In such a situation, if their sentence is not suspended, they will not be able to participate in the elections.
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The court refused to stay the sentence
In 2020, the High Court refused to ban flogging. During this time, the court said it was not appropriate to allow him to run for any public office until he was finally acquitted. Madhu Koda, former Coal Secretary HC Gupta, former Jharkhand Chief Secretary AK Basu and Vijay Joshi were sentenced to three years imprisonment each by the Patiala House Court on 16 December 2019.
