The Delhi High Court on Monday stayed the conviction of former union minister Dilip Ray, who was sentenced to a three-year jail term in a coal scam case pertaining to irregularities in the allocation of a Jharkhand block in 1999, to enable him to contest the upcoming Odisha legislative assembly elections.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma allowed Ray's application in which he sought a stay on the conviction and said if the conviction is not suspended, it would lead to an irreversible consequence in case he is acquitted at a later stage.

“In case the applicant’s (Ray) prayer is not allowed, he will lose the chance to contest the election and an irreversible consequence and irreversible damage to his political career and desire to serve his constituency will be caused to him….,” the court said.

Dilip Ray (born 9 January 1954) is a politician and hotelier from the state of Odisha. He was formerly the Union Minister of Steel, Coal, and Parliamentary Affairs. 

Ray is the only Odia parliamentarian to be part of the Ministry of three Prime Ministers. He is the founder and CMD of Mayfair Group of Hotels, largely based in eastern India.