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Azam Khan's Court Victory: Acquittal Amid Police Investigation Scrutiny

A Rampur court has given Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan major relief by acquitting him in the 2019 inflammatory speech case. The court ruled that the prosecution failed to establish its case and noted witnesses gave statements under pressure. This verdict overturns Khan's 2022 conviction that had led to his disqualification from the Assembly. However, the SP leader remains barred from contesting elections as several other cases against him are still pending.

Key Points: Azam Khan Acquitted in Rampur Inflammatory Speech Case

  • Court found prosecution failed to establish case due to lack of substantial evidence
  • Some witnesses gave statements under pressure during investigation process
  • Earlier 2022 conviction led to Khan's disqualification from Uttar Pradesh Assembly
  • Despite acquittal, Khan remains ineligible to contest elections due to pending cases
2 min read

Azam Khan acquitted in Rampur inflammatory speech case; court orders action against investigating officer

Rampur court acquits SP leader Azam Khan in 2019 inflammatory speech case, cites lack of evidence and orders action against investigating officer.

"It is rare that an innocent person is proven innocent, given the way the police handled the case. - Azam Khan"

Rampur (Uttar Pradesh), Nov 11

Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and former Uttar Pradesh Minister Azam Khan received major relief on Tuesday after a Rampur court acquitted him in the 2019 inflammatory speech case, citing lack of evidence and directing action against the investigating officer.

The case, filed by then SDM (Sadar) P.P. Tiwari during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, accused Khan of delivering a provocative speech during an election rally at Khatanagariya village under the Milak police station area.

He had allegedly made remarks against then District Magistrate Anjaneya Kumar Singh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Congress candidate Sanjay Kapoor, and was accused of calling the Election Commission "corrupt."

The prosecution claimed that his remarks were intended to polarise voters, but the court found no substantial evidence to support the charge.

After hearing final arguments from both sides last week, the MP-MLA Magistrate Court on Tuesday ruled that the prosecution failed to establish its case and that the lower court had delivered its earlier verdict "without properly understanding the context of the statement or examining the evidence."

The court also noted that some prosecution witnesses had given statements under pressure and observed that the investigating officer's role warranted action.

In October 2022, a lower court had convicted Khan in the same case, sentencing him to three years in jail and leading to his disqualification from the Assembly.

A by-election was subsequently held for the Rampur Sadar seat, which was won by the BJP's Akash Saxena.

Khan had appealed the conviction, and his acquittal on Tuesday effectively overturns the earlier judgment.

Speaking to reporters after the verdict, Azam Khan said, "It is rare that an innocent person is proven innocent, given the way the police handled the case. They left no stone unturned to hide the truth. This verdict proves that justice can prevail even against conspiracy and malice."

His counsel, Advocate Zuair Ahmed, described the verdict as "a victory for justice," asserting that Khan's speech was part of an election debate, not hate speech.

However, despite the acquittal, Azam Khan remains ineligible to contest elections for now, as several other cases against him are still pending in various courts.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
While I'm glad justice was served, this whole episode shows how our legal system is being misused for political gains. Both sides play these games during elections. The common man suffers while politicians get acquitted after years of litigation.
A
Akash W
The court's observation about witnesses being pressured is very concerning. This happens too often in political cases. Investigation agencies should work independently without political influence. 🇮🇳
S
Sarah B
As someone who follows Indian politics closely, this case highlights the need for electoral reforms. Politicians make strong statements during campaigns, but we need clearer guidelines on what constitutes hate speech versus political criticism.
V
Vikram M
The fact that he was convicted first and then acquitted shows the flaws in our judicial process. An innocent person had to go through so much trauma. The system needs to be more careful before convicting anyone.
N
Nisha Z
Respectfully, I disagree with the acquittal. Even if evidence was lacking, politicians should maintain decorum in public speeches. Calling constitutional bodies "corrupt" sets a bad precedent, regardless of party affiliation.
M
Michael C
This case demonstrates the importance of independent judiciary in India. Despite political pressure, the court stood by evidence and law. Hope this sets a precedent for fair investigations in political cases.

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