Azam Khan, son convicted in 2019 fake birth certificate case
Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and former MLA from Uttar Pradesh's Rampur, Azam Khan, was awarded a seven-year prison term in the 2019 fake birth certificate case by the MP/MLA court on Wednesday. His wife, Tazeen Fatima, and son, Abdullah Azam, were also convicted and sent to seven years in jail. Khan was freed from prison last year after serving two years for hate speech.
Watch: SP leader Khan after sentencing
2019 fake Birth certificate case
Per Deccan Herald, Abdullah was accused of furnishing two fake birth certificates while filing his nomination during the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly Polls. He contested from the Swar seat and emerged victorious in the poll. However, a complaint against him was filed by BJP MLA Akash Saxena at Ganj Police Station. His election was later canceled, and a by-poll was held for the seat.
Trio taken into judicial custody
"After the court verdict, the trio was taken into judicial custody and will be sent to...jail from the court itself," said Arun Parkash Saxena, a former District Government Counsel, who was representing the prosecution.
Trio convicted under various IPC sections
They were convicted under sections 420 (fraud), 467 (forging documents), 468 (using forged documents for cheating), 471 (using forged documents as genuine), and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The three surrendered before a local court in Rampur on February 26, 2020, in connection with the matter. All three were later granted bail.
81 other cases against Khan
Khan is one of the founding members of the SP and has served as a Member of Parliament (MP) from UP's Rampur. Since 2017, at least 81 cases have been filed against Khan across Rampur. These cases are related to grabbing, cheating, and criminal trespass, among others. The 75-year-old SP leader is also under investigation for money laundering by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
2019 hate speech case
In July, Khan was also convicted for passing "derogatory comments" against UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Just months prior, in May, the MP/MLA court in Rampur acquitted him in a case related to another hate speech in 2019. A lower court had sentenced Khan to three years in prison. It had also disqualified him from the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.
