In a significant development, an Uttar Pradesh court acquitted Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan today, overturning the earlier judgment that had found him guilty of hate speech. The former Rampur MLA had been sentenced to three years in prison as a result.
Following his conviction, Azam Khan was disqualified from the state Assembly, prompting the Election Commission (EC) to announce a by-election for the vacant Rampur seat. However, Khan challenged the EC’s decision in the Supreme Court, arguing that the announcement of the bypoll was premature since his appeal against the conviction was still pending with the Rampur court.
Responding to Khan’s plea, the Supreme Court directed the Additional Sessions Judge in Rampur to expedite the hearing of his application. Unfortunately for Khan, the Rampur Court rejected his application, leading to the EC issuing a revised schedule for the by-election, stating that the judge had not granted a stay in the matter.
Subsequently, the by-election took place, with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s candidate, Akash Saxena, emerging victorious over Azam Khan’s protege Asim Raja. Saxena secured a significant lead of over 30,000 votes, cementing his position as the representative of Rampur in the state Assembly.
This acquittal comes as a major development for Azam Khan, potentially altering the political landscape in Uttar Pradesh. The outcome of this case will undoubtedly have a ripple effect on the state’s political dynamics and shape future elections in the region.
