Azam Khan gets relief in hate speech case as court overturns conviction

Rampur: Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan received a major relief as an MP-MLA sessions court overturned the three-year sentence handed down to him by a lower court in a hate speech case from 2019.

The MP-MLA magistrate court had previously sentenced Azam Khan, who was the then Samajwadi Party MLA from the Rampur Sadar seat, on October 27, 2022. As a result of the conviction, Khan was subsequently disqualified as an MLA.

However, a government counsel involved in the case has confirmed that the special court has now accepted the appeal filed against Khan's sentence. The decision to overturn the three-year sentence signifies a significant legal victory for Azam Khan.

Azam Khan, known for his influential role within the Samajwadi Party, is expected to resume his political activities following this favourable outcome. The decision to overturn the sentence has undoubtedly brought relief to the veteran politician and his supporters.

Azam Khan's successful appeal against the three-year sentence marks a significant turn of events, which could potentially rejuvenate his political career and determine his future trajectory in the Samajwadi Party.

Khan’s counsel Vinod Sharma said, “We have been acquitted in the hate speech case. We are happy that we have got justice.”

“Our contention that we had been framed in the case has been upheld by the court, and the judgement is in our favour,” Sharma added.

After Khan’s membership to the assembly was disqualified, a by-election was held in the Rampur Sadar seat. BJP candidate Akash Saxena defeated the SP’s Asim Raja, a close aide of Khan, in the polls.