A court in Uttar Pradesh’s Rampur has sentenced senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan to two years of imprisonment in a case linked to alleged objectionable remarks made against government officials during the 2019 Lok Sabha election campaign.
The court also imposed a fine on Khan, who appeared before it through video conferencing from Rampur jail, where he is already lodged in connection with another case.
Case Linked to 2019 Election Rally Speech
The case stems from a speech delivered by Azam Khan during an election rally in the Mankara area under the Bhot police station limits in 2019, when he was contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Rampur as part of the SP-BSP-RLD alliance.
According to the prosecution, Khan made remarks targeting government officials, including the then District Magistrate of Rampur. The speech was later circulated on social media and was alleged to have violated the Model Code of Conduct.
A complaint was filed on May 11, 2019, by the then Sub-Divisional Magistrate and Assistant Returning Officer, Ghanshyam Tripathi, following which an FIR was registered initially at Civil Lines police station and later transferred to Bhot police station after verification of the incident location.
Court Finds Guilty Under Multiple IPC Sections
Senior prosecution officer Rakesh Kumar Maurya said the court examined 10 prosecution witnesses before holding Khan guilty.
The court convicted him under sections 153A and 153B of the Indian Penal Code, which deal with promoting enmity between groups and imputations prejudicial to national integration, as well as section 505(2), which relates to statements creating hatred or ill-will between communities. He was also convicted under section 125 of the Representation of the People Act, which deals with electoral offences.
The court held that the speech contributed to communal tension and violated electoral norms during the campaign period.
Defence Plans Appeal
Khan’s lawyer Nasir Sultan said the verdict will be challenged in a higher court. He maintained that the remarks were not directed at any specific officer individually and were made in a broader political context.
Background of Multiple Legal Cases
The conviction adds to a series of legal challenges faced by Azam Khan in recent years. After 2017, multiple cases were registered against him in Uttar Pradesh, including several during the 2019 election period.
A 10-time MLA from Rampur Sadar and a prominent face of the Samajwadi Party, Khan has faced allegations ranging from hate speech and intimidation to land-related disputes. While he has received relief in some cases through bail and appeals, he has also been convicted in certain matters and acquitted in others.
