UP govt ordered a probe against SP Leader Azam Khan

Trouble is again brewing for Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan as the state government has ordered a probe by Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the allotment of government land and buildings to Jauhar University promoted by Khan. 

The SIT has already completed investigations   and lodged an FIR in April against Azam Khan for irregularities in recruitment scam in UP Jal Nigam. However, the arrest of Khan and other accused was stayed by Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on May 24.

Official sources said that fresh trouble were in the offing for the former Urban Development minister as the state government has directed the SIT to carry out an inquiry against the allotment of Maulana Mohammed Ali Jauhar Research Centre building to Khan’s Jauhar Trust by the department of Minorities Welfare during the previous Samajwadi Party regime.

The state government has also directed the SIT to enquire into construction of a two-kilometer flyover connecting Jauhar University to a trisection, a VIP guest house within the varsity campus, roads worth crores on the campus and a four-kilometer wall constructed in front of the varsity to block nearby villagers from using these roads.

The role of senior PWD officials, who supervised the construction inside the varsity, was also under the scanner. Sources said that Additional SP (SIT), Lucknow, has summoned all records from office of the Executive Engineer (PWD), Rampur. 

A PWD official said they have received a communication from the SIT and been asked to join the probe and place all documents and records related to the construction of guest house and roads inside Jauhar University and the four-kilometer wall before.

The SIT is also probing into allotment of Mohammad Ali Jauhar Research Institute Building to Jauhar Trust which controls the varsity. The Research Institute was constructed on a 200 bigha government property in Rampur in 2005-06 when Mulayam Singh was the CM. . In 2015, the SP government allotted the building housing the Research Institute to a trust of Azam Khan on a lease of Rs 100 per annum for 99 years. 

Sources said that the then District Minority Welfare Officer of Rampur signed the memorandum of understanding with Khan’s trust. 

In 2017, BJP leader Akash Kumar Saxena lodged multiple complaints regarding alleged irregularities with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. After this, the state government directed DM of Rampur to carry out a probe and file a report. In December, 2017, the then DM Shiv Sahay Awasthi recommended for a high-level inquiry into the allotment of Jauhar Research Centre building to Khan’s trust and also into other irregularities.