The Allahabad High Court is scheduled to hear a hate speech case against senior Samajwadi Party leader and former Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan on Friday.
The case adds to Khan’s long list of legal troubles and comes just months after he was acquitted in a separate criminal matter.
Azam Khan Faces Fresh Court Battle
Azam Khan, a prominent political figure often mired in controversy, is accused of delivering hate-filled remarks during a public event. The petition before the High Court seeks legal action over his alleged attempts to incite communal tensions through provocative speech. Specific details of the remarks are part of the official complaint, which invokes provisions of the Indian Penal Code related to promoting disharmony and enmity between communities.
Khan, however, has consistently denied the allegations, claiming they are politically motivated. His legal team maintains that his statements were misrepresented and fall within the bounds of free speech.
Acquitted In The 2016 Dungarpur Case
Earlier this year, Khan received relief when a special MP-MLA court acquitted him and seven others in a case linked to the 2016 Dungarpur incident. The case involved allegations of illegal house demolitions during the implementation of the Asara housing scheme under the Samajwadi Party government.
According to Khan’s lawyer, Nasir Sultan, “Nearly one dozen FIRs were registered against Azam Khan and others regarding the Dungarpur incident. One such case was filed in 2019 by Shafeeq Bano, who claimed she had built her house on land bought in 2012.”
Additional Sessions Judge Vivek Kumar acquitted the group citing insufficient evidence, bringing a close to one of several legal battles the former minister has faced in recent years.
Zainab Fatima’s Petition
In a separate but equally high-profile matter, the High Court will also hear a petition filed by Zainab Fatima, the widow of slain gangster Ashraf Ahmed. Ashraf and his brother, Atiq Ahmed—a former legislator with an extensive criminal background—were shot dead in April 2024 while speaking to the media in Prayagraj.
Zainab and her sister-in-law, Ayesha Noori, are both named in the Umesh Pal murder case. Umesh Pal, a key witness in the 2005 killing of BSP MLA Raju Pal, was gunned down in February 2023, allegedly by associates of Atiq Ahmed. Two police personnel assigned to Pal’s security were also killed in the attack.
Fatima’s plea reportedly challenges certain procedures in the ongoing investigation and seeks protection from arrest.
Political Implications
Friday’s proceedings are likely to be closely followed, particularly in political circles. A conviction in the hate speech case could have serious consequences for Azam Khan, potentially affecting his electoral eligibility under the Representation of the People Act.
With both Khan’s hate speech case and Zainab Fatima’s petition on the docket, the Allahabad High Court is poised to deliberate on two matters that reflect the deeply intertwined nature of crime, politics, and law enforcement in Uttar Pradesh.
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