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The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the conviction of Indian National Congress leader Hardik Patel in a 2015 riot case. Patel had challenged the Gujarat High Court order upholding his conviction in the Mehsana riots case.

The bench of Justice S Abdul Nazeer and Justice Vikram Nath was hearing a plea against the judgment of the Gujarat High Court upholding Patel's conviction so that he could contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Senior Advocate Maninder Singh appearing for Patel argued before the bench that not allowing Patel to contest the elections is a violation of his right to freedom.

Whereas, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta opposed the stay as sought stating that there are allegations of several serious offences in the 2015 Riots case against Patel.

However, the bench stayed the conviction until all the appeals in relation to the case are decided.

Earlier, a Session Court had sentenced Patel imprisonment for 2 years for rioting and other offences in the 2015 Mahsana Riots case, whereas later on, the High Court had suspended the sentence while upholding the conviction, which indirectly barred him to contest Lok Sabha elections.

Cause Title: Hardik Bharatbhai Patel Vs. The State of Gujarat