The Allahabad High Court on Monday stayed further criminal proceedings against former Samajwadi Party MLA Irfan Solanki in a 2022 case of extortion and cheating pending before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court in Kanpur Nagar.
A single bench of Justice Sameer Jain passed the interim order on a petition filed by Solanki challenging the chargesheet as well as the trial court proceedings, including the summoning order dated November 15, 2022. The court fixed November 17, 2025, as the next date of hearing and directed that proceedings before the CJM, Kanpur Nagar remain stayed till then.
The case was registered at Jajmau police station in Kanpur Nagar on February 6, 2022, under Section 386 of the Indian Penal Code (extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt) and other provisions. According to the FIR lodged by complainant Akeel Ahmad, Solanki and co-accused Rizwan Solanki allegedly attempted to forcibly take possession of land belonging to economically weaker individuals.
It was alleged that when the informant objected, the accused threatened him and demanded ₹10 lakh along with 10% as a so-called “MLA tax.”
Appearing for Solanki, his counsel argued that he is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the case. At the time of the alleged incident, Solanki was a sitting Member of the Legislative Assembly and was allegedly targeted due to political rivalry.
