Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Abdullah Azam Khan has been released from Hardoi jail after 17 months of incarceration. His release follows the granting of bail in a 2020 enemy property case by a special MP/MLA court. Supporters and party leaders gathered outside the prison to welcome him.
Abdullah Azam Khan, the son of veteran SP leader Azam Khan, was escorted out of the prison complex around noon, wearing a white kurta-pyjama with a dark-colored sleeveless waistcoat and sporting a neatly made ponytail. While he did not address the media, his lawyer, Satnam Singh Nattu, expressed gratitude, stating, “As the entire country knows, Mohammad Azam Khan and his family were persecuted and imprisoned. Today, we thank God, Allah, Waheguru for paving the way for Abdullah Bhai’s release. He will finally walk free and return home today.”
The bail, granted by MP/MLA special magistrate trial court Judge Shobhit Bansal, pertains to allegations of record destruction linked to enemy property. Over the years, approximately 45 cases have been registered against Abdullah Azam Khan, including one related to machine theft. He had secured bail in all of them, but procedural issues related to bail verification delayed his release. On Monday, the release order from the MP/MLA Magistrate Trial Court was sent to Hardoi jail, paving the way for his freedom.
As news of his impending release spread, supporters and party leaders, including Moradabad MP and SP leader Ruchi Veera, gathered outside the prison. Veera reiterated her faith in the judicial system, stating, “We had confidence in the judiciary before, and we still do. Justice has been served, and we are grateful. Although the court’s order came six days ago, it took time for the release documents to be processed. But finally, we have clarity, and we are happy that justice has been done.”
Abdullah Azam Khan, a former MLA from the Suar constituency in Rampur, had been lodged in Hardoi jail since October 2023. His father, Azam Khan, remains incarcerated in Sitapur jail, serving a 10-year sentence related to a 2016 forced eviction case in Rampur’s Dungarpur colony. The special MP/MLA court in Rampur sentenced Azam Khan to 10 years of imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹14 lakh in connection with the case. Despite securing bail in some cases, legal hurdles and pending charges have prolonged his imprisonment.
The release of Abdullah Azam Khan is seen as a significant development for the Samajwadi Party, especially in the Rampur region. Party members and supporters view it as a positive step and hope for further favorable outcomes concerning the legal challenges faced by the Khan family.
