A special MP/MLA court in Rampur delivered a significant verdict on Friday, sentencing former Samajwadi Party legislator Abdullah Azam Khan to seven years of rigorous imprisonment. The court found him guilty of obtaining and using two separate passports by submitting documents with different dates of birth.
The Charges and Court Proceedings
The case, which dates back to 2019, was initiated based on a complaint filed by BJP MLA Akash Saxena at the Civil Lines police station. Public Prosecutor Swadesh Kumar Sharma detailed the charges, stating that Abdullah Azam Khan was convicted under several sections of the Indian Penal Code.
The charges included IPC sections 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), and 471 (using a forged document as genuine). The court, presided over by Judge Shobhit Bansal, also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the convicted leader.
During the trial, the prosecution presented five witnesses. The defense counsel had listed 36 witnesses, of which 19 were eventually examined by the court. Abdullah, who is currently lodged in Rampur District Jail, was produced before the court via video conferencing for the pronouncement of the judgment.
A Pattern of Forgery Cases
This conviction is not an isolated legal setback for the father-son duo. In a strikingly similar case last month, the same MP/MLA court sentenced both Azam Khan and his son Abdullah to seven years in jail. That case pertained to obtaining two PAN cards for Abdullah using forged documents with differing birth dates.
Following that verdict, both politicians were taken into custody and sent to jail. The latest ruling adds to a growing list of convictions against them, highlighting a pattern of alleged document forgery.
Mounting Legal Troubles
The legal landscape for the Khan family appears increasingly challenging. With this latest conviction, Abdullah Azam Khan has been found guilty in three criminal cases. His father, veteran Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, has faced convictions in seven cases so far.
However, the legal battles are far from over. Reports indicate that over 70 cases against Azam Khan and approximately 40 cases against Abdullah Azam Khan are still pending before various courts in Rampur. These pending cases span a range of allegations, ensuring that the political figures will remain embroiled in judicial proceedings for the foreseeable future.
This verdict is likely to have significant political repercussions in Uttar Pradesh, particularly in the Rampur region, which has long been a stronghold for Azam Khan. It also underscores the ongoing legal scrutiny faced by several political figures in the state.
