Supreme Court Urges Swift Decision on Solanki's Arson Conviction Appeal

The Supreme Court has directed the Allahabad High Court to expedite its decision on Irfan Solanki's appeal to stay his conviction in an arson case. Solanki, a former Samajwadi Party MLA, was sentenced to seven years in prison for allegedly setting a woman's house on fire in Kanpur.

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the Allahabad High Court to reach a decision within 10 days regarding Irfan Solanki's plea. Solanki is seeking a stay on his conviction in an arson case. Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan emphasized the need for swift adjudication.

A local Uttar Pradesh court had convicted Solanki, along with others, for allegedly setting fire to a woman's house in Kanpur. Subsequently, they were sentenced to seven years in prison. Solanki appealed to the Allahabad High Court, requesting a stay on his conviction and sentence. The high court deferred the case to November 6.

Solanki, who secured a legislative seat in the 2022 elections for the Samajwadi Party from Sisamau, Kanpur, was disqualified following his conviction. In June, the Kanpur MP MLA court sentenced Solanki, his brother Rizwan, and three others to seven years in prison and a fine of Rs 20,000 each. The charges stem from an FIR filed on November 8, 2022, by Nazir Fatima, alleging that Solanki and his associates set her house on fire as part of a land-grabbing conspiracy.