Cuttack, April 10: In a setback to veteran Congress leader Mohammad Moquim ahead of the 2024 General Elections, the Orissa High Court affirmed a three-year jail term on Wednesday, upholding a previous ruling by a lower court in connection to the alleged Odisha Rural Housing & Development Corporation (ORHDC) loan scam case.

Moquim, who serves as the Barabati-Cuttack MLA, had been granted interim bail by the Orissa High Court previously, following the special vigilance court's verdict in September 2022. This verdict stemmed from allegations related to Moquim's tenure as Managing Director of Metro Builders Private Limited, implicating him in purported financial irregularities involving ORHDC loans intended for rural development.

Despite Moquim's appeal to the High Court challenging the vigilance court's conviction, the Orissa High Court's decision upheld the earlier ruling, dashing his hopes of overturning the sentence.

Senior advocate Manas Kumar Chand remarked, "With the Orissa High Court's affirmation of the lower court's conviction, Moquim's jail term remains unchanged. Moquim may now seek recourse from the Supreme Court. Should the apex court suspend his conviction, Moquim may become eligible to contest in the forthcoming elections. However, if the Supreme Court upholds the prior verdict, his candidacy prospects would be jeopardized."

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