A significant legal development has seen Samajwadi Party stalwart Azam Khan and his son Abdullah Azam sentenced to seven years of imprisonment. The ruling came from a Special MP-MLA Magistrate Court in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, concerning a case involving fraudulent dual PAN Cards. The complaint, filed by BJP leader Akash Saxena in December 2019, accused the father-son duo of obtaining multiple PAN Cards with discrepancies in their dates of birth. The prosecution argued that these PAN Cards were acquired through forged documentation and utilized for financial activities and tax purposes.
This recent seven-year sentence adds to Azam Khan’s considerable legal challenges, as he faces charges in over 100 other cases. He had only recently secured bail in September, having spent nearly two years incarcerated in Rampur jail. Prior to this, a Lucknow court cleared him in a case concerning alleged defamation via misuse of his official government stationery. The court cited a lack of conclusive evidence for its acquittal.
Despite these legal battles, Azam Khan is signaling a return to political engagement. He recently met with Akhilesh Yadav, the Samajwadi Party chief, emphasizing a close, family-like relationship. Khan has also been critical of the incumbent state government, claiming a severe deterioration of law and order in Uttar Pradesh, famously remarking on the absence of ‘law’ and the presence of mere ‘order’.