SP leader Azam Khan released from jail after 23 months

Senior SP leader Azam Khan was released from Sitapur jail after 23 months, following bail in multiple cases. His release saw heavy police restrictions, yet SP supporters gathered in celebration.

Sitapur: Senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and former Uttar Pradesh minister Mohammad Azam Khan was released from Sitapur jail on Tuesday after spending nearly 23 months behind bars.

His release was delayed by a few hours as he had forgotten to pay a fine of ₹8,000 in two cases. The fine was later cleared in court by his lawyer, Sadnam Singh, after which the verification was completed and Khan was freed.

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“In both cases, the fine imposed on Azam Khan has now been cleared. I took the receipt of the fine inside and met the jailer,” Singh told reporters.

In view of his release, prohibitory orders under Section 144 were enforced in Sitapur city. Police made announcements through loudspeakers warning people against assembling near the jail premises. Despite this, several SP workers and supporters gathered outside, prompting authorities to disperse the crowd and fine multiple vehicles.

Sitapur Circle Officer Vinayak Bhosle said: “Everyone knows that the roads in the city are narrow, and due to Navratri there is already a lot of crowd. No one is allowed to stand without reason here. Section 144 is in force, and we are taking action.”

Preparations to welcome Khan were being made by SP district president Chhatrapal Singh Yadav, who said: “We have come to welcome him. He is our leader. His arrival will strengthen the party even more.”

SP MLA Anil Kumar Verma added: “After a long time, the legal proceedings have concluded. We thank the court for this.”

Khan was granted bail on September 18 by the Allahabad High Court in the Quality Bar land grab case, lodged at Rampur’s Civil Lines police station. Earlier, on September 10, he was also granted bail in a case linked to the alleged forced eviction of residents from Rampur’s Dungarpur colony.

He was recently acquitted by a special MP-MLA court in a 17-year-old case involving allegations of road blockade and damage to public property. Over the years, as many as 16 FIRs have been filed against him on a wide range of charges.