Rampur: The Allahabad High Court has granted bail to senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan in a case linked to the alleged forced eviction of residents from Rampur’s Dungarpur colony. Justice Sameer Jain approved the bail after Khan challenged his conviction and 10-year jail term imposed by an MP/MLA court in Rampur.
The case dates back to December 2016 when a demolition in the colony led to multiple complaints. A resident, Abrar, filed a case in August 2019 at the Ganj police station, alleging assault and threats from Azam Khan, former police circle officer Ale Hasan Khan, and contractor Barkat Ali. The MP/MLA court convicted Azam Khan on May 30 last year, while Barkat Ali was sentenced to seven years. Both later appealed to the High Court.
In addition to Abrar’s complaint, residents of the colony lodged 12 separate cases accusing the group of robbery, theft, and assault during the eviction drive.
Despite the latest bail order, Azam Khan will remain in jail for now. His release depends on the outcome of bail applications in other pending cases, including the high-profile Dungarpur matter still under appeal.
Azam Khan is a veteran SP leader and a prominent Muslim politician in Uttar Pradesh. He has served several terms as MLA from Rampur and held ministerial posts in the state government. His career has been marked by influence as well as controversy, with multiple criminal cases filed against him over the years.
