High Court Grants Bail, Keeps Conviction in Solanki Arson Case

The Allahabad High Court granted bail to ex-Samajwadi Party MLA Irfan Solanki in an arson case but upheld his conviction. Solanki lost his assembly seat after a 2024 conviction. His family plans to appeal to the Supreme Court, arguing his innocence and seeking to overturn the verdict.

The Allahabad High Court on Thursday granted bail to Irfan Solanki, a former Samajwadi Party MLA, but denied his request to overturn his conviction in a 2022 arson case.

Despite the bail, the court upheld the seven-year sentence handed down to Solanki and others for setting a house on fire in Kanpur. The state's plea for a harsher sentence was also dismissed. Solanki lost his seat in the state assembly due to this conviction.

Naseem Solanki, Irfan's wife and Samajwadi Party's candidate for the upcoming bypoll, expressed optimism following the court's decision, vowing to appeal to the Supreme Court to seek a stay on the sentence. The family remains steadfast in their belief of Solanki's innocence.

(With inputs from agencies.)