In a significant legal development, former Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan, along with three others, has been found guilty in two separate cases involving vandalism and forced demolition of a house dating back to 2016. The verdict, delivered by a special court in Rampur, marks a continuation of legal challenges for the senior Samajwadi Party leader, who is currently serving a sentence in another criminal case.
In the first case, the court convicted Azam Khan, along with Aaley Hasan, a retired DSP, Barkat Ali, a contractor, and Azhar Ali, in a matter related to alleged house trespass and vandalism in the Dongarpur area of Rampur district. The incident, which occurred in February 2016, involved the forcible entry into a property owned by Ahtesham Khan, wherein the accused, accompanied by a group of policemen, purportedly demolished household items and ran a bulldozer over the premises. The cour
t held the four individuals guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including criminal conspiracy and intimidation.
Similarly, in a separate case concerning the forced demolition of a house in the Dungarpur area, Azam Khan, along with Azhar Ahmed Khan, former Nagar Palika chairman, and former circle officer Ale Hasan and Barkat Ali, faced conviction. Three other accused individuals were acquitted by the court in this matter.
Azam khan arrest
These convictions come amidst a backdrop of heightened legal scrutiny against Azam Khan, with a total of 81 cases registered against him since the BJP came to power in Uttar Pradesh in 2017. The legal battles range from allegations of land-grabbing to cheating and criminal trespass.
The court is set to announce the quantum of punishment for Azam Khan and the other convicted individuals on Monday, adding another chapter to the legal saga surrounding the influential politician. As these cases unfold, they underscore the importance of accountability and the rule of law, irrespective of an individual’s political stature.
