Uttar Pradesh: Rampur court to pronounce judgment in Azam Khan 'provocative' speech case

BAREILLY: The special MP/MLA court of Rampur will pronounce judgment in a "provocative" speech case lodged against Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan today.
The case was registered against Khan at Milak Kotwali in Rampur on April 9, 2019, for allegedly making provocative remarks against Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath and IAS Aunjaneya Kumar Singh, the then DM, under sections 153a (promoting enmity between two groups), 505-1 (statement conducing to public mischief) of IPC along with sections 125 of the Representation of People Act 1951.
Akash Saxena, an advocate and a local BJP leader who had contested against Khan in recent MLA elections in 2022, said, "I had raised concerns that Azam Khan was trying to incite violence amongst two communities by delivering provocative statements and he also used foul language for the then DM and his mother. On my complaint, the returning officer took cognizance of the matter and after checking the video footage of the speech, he ordered an FIR against Khan. The judgment in this case will be pronounced on Thursday."
As per a Supreme Court judgment dated July 10, 2013, if any MLA, MLC or MP is convicted in a criminal case and gets imprisonment of minimum two years then he/she loses membership of the house with immediate effect. The maximum imprisonment under IPC sections 505-1 and 153a may extend up to three years which means the threat of losing power looms over Khan.
As per sources in the court, the statements of 21 witnesses were recorded before the court. Five of them were produced by the defence counsel; whereas four cameramen, in-charge of the video observation team and others were the witnesses produced by the prosecution.
TOI tried contacting Azam Khan and his family but no one was available to comment.