A court in Sangrur district (Punjab) on Thursday stayed the conviction of Punjab Cabinet minister Aman Arora in a 2008 assault case until January 31, 2024. The District and Sessions judge granted interim relief in response to a petition by Minister Arora, who sought a stay on his conviction.
Arora’s counsel, Yogesh Gupta, stated, “the court has stayed the minister’s conviction until January 31 and postponed the matter for the final pronouncement of the order.” Arora, representing the Sunam assembly constituency, had filed an appeal in the district court challenging his conviction.
In a case dating back 15 years, Arora and eight others were sentenced to two years of imprisonment by a Sangrur district court on December 21. The case originated from an assault on a relative of Arora in his residence. Arora’s brother-in-law, Rajinder Deepa, lodged a complaint leading to the booking of the accused under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 452 (house-trespass) and 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt). The court imposed a two-year sentence under section 452 and a one-year sentence under section 323 of the IPC.
Aman Arora currently oversees portfolios such as new and renewable energy, printing and stationery, employment generation, and training and governance reforms in the Bhagwant Mann cabinet.
On January 5, Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit wrote to Chief Minister Mann, questioning why the convicted minister had not been divested of membership, contrary to Supreme Court directions. The Governor referenced a Supreme Court judgment, stating that an MLA is divested of membership if convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for a term not less than two years by a trial court. On Wednesday, a delegation from the Shiromani Akali Dal urged the Governor to prevent Arora from hoisting the national flag on Republic Day.