High Court’s Decision Brings Legal Relief to Azam Khan

The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday granted bail to senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan in the Dungarpur forced eviction case, overturning his 10-year sentence handed down by a special MP/MLA court in Rampur. The order was delivered by Justice Sameer Jain, who had reserved the decision in August.

Background of the Case

The Dungarpur case arose from a complaint filed in August 2019 by one Abrar, accusing Azam Khan, retired Circle Officer (CO) Ale Hasan Khan, and contractor Barkat Ali of forcibly evicting residents of the Dungarpur colony in Rampur in December 2016. The allegations include assault, threat to life, demolition of property, and intimidation.

In May 2024, the MP/MLA court convicted Azam Khan and sentenced him to 10 years in prison; Barkat Ali was sentenced to 7 years. Khan had approached the Allahabad High Court, challenging both his conviction and the severity of the punishment.

Details of the Bail Order

Justice Sameer Jain allowed the bail application in the appeal filed by Azam Khan. Barkat Ali, similarly convicted in the case, also secured bail in the same order while their appeals are ongoing. However, despite the bail order, Azam Khan remains in Sitapur jail because of another pending case (the Quality Bar land allotment case in Rampur) for which bail has not yet been granted.

Legal and Political Reactions

The bail has been seen as a major relief for Azam Khan, who has been serving as a prominent leader in Rampur and Uttar Pradesh politics. His supporters argue that the High Court’s decision corrects an excess and reaffirms due process, while opponents assert that multiple serious charges continue to loom over him.

Legal experts note that while bail pending appeal is not unusual, the fact that the court considered the gravity of the allegations, the existing evidence, and Azam Khan’s health and age (as asserted in some affidavits) may have influenced the decision. But the pendency of other cases means his legal troubles are far from over.

Implications Going Forward

With this bail, attention now turns to the appeal hearing in the High Court, where the original conviction and sentence will be scrutinized. If the conviction is overturned or sentence reduced, it could affect similar cases involving forced evictions and political figures in Uttar Pradesh.

Meanwhile, his continued detention due to other cases means the bail won’t translate immediately into his release. The intersection of multiple criminal cases and political dynamics suggests a protracted legal battle ahead.

Conclusion

The Allahabad High Court’s bail order for Azam Khan in the Dungarpur forced eviction case presents a temporary legal setback for the prosecution’s position, even as the final legal resolution remains pending. The case underlines the complexities inherent in politically sensitive legal disputes, especially those involving allegations of wrongdoing, public eviction orders, property rights, and the role of political power. All eyes now are on the High Court’s detailed verdict in the appeal and the status of other pending cases against Azam Khan.