Allahabad High Court Reviews Udaybhan Karwaria Release

Udaybhan Karwaria, a former BJP MLA serving a life sentence for the 1996 murder of Samajwadi Party MLA Jawahar Yadav, was released on July 25, 2024, under a pardon granted by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel citing his good conduct. This decision has been challenged by Yadav's widow, Vijma Yadav, who filed a writ petition questioning the legality of the release. The Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to respond to the petition and to submit a counter-affidavit within four weeks. The court's intervention highlights the powers conferred under Article 161 of the Indian Constitution, which allows governors to grant pardons. The case has significant implications regarding the premature release of convicts and the criteria for such decisions. Karwaria was previously sentenced to life imprisonment in 2019 alongside his brothers for the murder committed in Prayagraj.