Azam Khan gets 3 years in jail for hate speech on Yogi Adityanath

Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan convicted for 3 years in jail by Rampur Court, Uttar Pradesh

Image courtesy: ANI

New Delhi: Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan has been convicted for 3 years in jail by Rampur Court, Uttar Pradesh. The Samajwadi Party leader has been found guilty in a hate speech case filed against him over his comments against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in 2019. Apart from 3 years imprisonment sentence, Azam Khan along with 2 other accused has been slapped with a fine of Rs 2,000 in the hate speech case.

Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan & 2 other accused sentenced to 3 years in prison along with a fine of Rs 2000 in the hate speech case of 2019. pic.twitter.com/TZGRB5j6FO

— ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2022

However, the Joint Director Prosecution Incharge, SP Panday has informed the media that Azam Khan can get bail in case he applies for it. He further informs that the MLA position may be forfeited if the imprisonment is longer than two years. 

UP | If Azam Khan applies for bail, he can get it. If the imprisonment is longer than 2 years, there is a danger to the MLA post. He's sentenced to 3 years in prison, says SP Pandey, Joint Director Prosecution Incharge, Rampur pic.twitter.com/l7wUZNAuJJ

— ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2022

The case against Azam Khan was registered at Milak Kotwali in Rampur on April 9, 2019, for allegedly making provocative remarks against 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.

Samajwadi Party's Rampur legislator has been charged in over 90 cases including extortion, criminal conspiracy, and theft. Khan, the influential Muslim face of the party, was arrested by police in 2020 and was in jail for 27 months before being released on bail.