Allahabad High Court Reserves Verdict in Two Criminal Cases Against Ex-MLA Abdullah Azam Khan

By

Rajesh Pandey

 

Rampur/Lucknow: The Allahabad High Court has reserved its verdict in two separate criminal matters involving former Samajwadi Party MLA Mohammad Abdullah Azam Khan, the son of veteran SP leader Azam Khan, after the conclusion of extensive hearings in both cases.

The order was reserved by Justice Sameer Jain on Tuesday, following the completion of arguments presented by both the prosecution and defence.

 

Overview of the Cases

Abdullah Azam Khan has filed two separate petitions before the high court, seeking the quashing of the entire criminal proceedings currently pending against him in the MP/MLA Court of Rampur.

The petitions pertain to two distinct cases—one involving allegations of procuring a passport using forged documents, and the other relating to the possession and use of two PAN (Permanent Account Number) cards.

 

Case 1: Fake Passport Allegation

The first case dates back to July 30, 2019, when BJP MLA Akash Saxena filed a complaint at the Civil Lines police station in Rampur.

Saxena alleged that Abdullah Azam Khan had fraudulently obtained a passport by providing false personal information, specifically an incorrect date of birth.

The complaint accuses Abdullah of submitting fabricated documents to secure the passport, thereby violating provisions under the Passport Act and committing fraud.

According to the FIR, Abdullah’s passport, issued on January 10, 2018, mentions his date of birth as September 30, 1990. However, his educational certificates reportedly indicate January 1, 1993, as his actual date of birth.

This discrepancy led to allegations of deliberate forgery intended to manipulate official records.

The case has since been under trial in the Rampur MP/MLA court, where Abdullah is facing charges of fraud and document falsification.

Case 2: Dual PAN Cards Controversy

The second case, also filed by BJP legislator Akash Saxena, was registered on December 6, 2019, again at the Civil Lines police station in Rampur.

The FIR accuses Abdullah Azam Khan and his father, Azam Khan, of engaging in a criminal conspiracy to obtain two PAN cards fraudulently.

The case against Abdullah involves serious charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including:

• Section 120B (criminal conspiracy)

• Section 420 (cheating)

• Section 467 (forgery of valuable security)

• Section 468 (forgery for cheating)

• Section 471 (using a forged document as genuine)

Akash Saxena has claimed that Abdullah Azam deliberately obtained two PAN cards to facilitate his candidacy in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

He further alleged that Abdullah submitted one PAN number in his election affidavit, while using a different PAN number in his Income Tax Return (ITR) filings, effectively hiding the existence of the second PAN card from the Election Commission.

Saxena termed the alleged act a deliberate fraud, accusing the former MLA and his father of manipulating official records to gain political advantage.

Relief Sought by Abdullah Azam Khan

In both matters, Abdullah has approached the Allahabad High Court with a plea to quash the ongoing criminal proceedings, arguing that the charges are baseless and politically motivated.

His legal team contended that the continuation of the trials is unnecessary and amounts to harassment.

After hearing detailed arguments from both sides over multiple sessions, the Allahabad High Court has now reserved its decision, meaning a judgment will be delivered at a later date.

Current Legal Position

Until the High Court delivers its final verdict, the criminal trials in both cases continue in the MP/MLA Court of Rampur.

The outcomes in these cases are expected to have significant legal and political implications, given Abdullah Azam Khan’s political lineage and the serious nature of the allegations.

The matter remains under judicial consideration, and all eyes are now on the High Court’s forthcoming decision regarding the fate of the criminal proceedings against the former legislator.