Sitapur (Uttar Pradesh), 23 September (IANS) Senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and former Uttar Pradesh Minister Mohammad Azam Khan was released from Sitapur Jail on Tuesday after being behind bars for about 23 months.
There was a delay in a few hours before Azam Khan’s release from Sitapur jail. He was to be released at 8.00 am on Tuesday; However, he forgot to pay a fine of Rs 8,000 in two cases.
His lawyer, Sadanam Singh, paid the fine in the court, after which the verification was done. Subsequently, he was released.
Talking to reporters, the House said, “The fine imposed on Azam Khan has now been approved. I received the fine and met the jailer.”
In view of his release, prohibitive orders have been implemented under Section 144 in Sitapur city. The police is announcing through loudspeakers, warning people against gathering near the jail premises.
Despite the sanctions, the number of SP workers, leaders and supporters waiting outside the jail has increased. Authorities have dispersed the crowd, and several vehicles in the area have been fined.
Speaking to reporters, Sitapur Circle official Vinayak Bhosle said, “Everyone knows that the roads in the city are narrow and due to Navratri, there is a lot of crowd on the roads. No one is allowed to stand without any reason. Section 144 is in force, under which we are taking action. The crowd is being removed from the roads.”
Preparations were also being made by SP District President Chhatrapal Singh Yadav to welcome Azam Khan.
Speaking to IANS, he said, “We have come to welcome him. He is our leader. His arrival will strengthen the party even more.”
SP MLA Anil Kumar Verma, who arrived in Sitapur to welcome the senior leader, said, “After a long time, legal proceedings ended. We thank the court for this.”
Azam Khan was granted bail in the Quality Bar Land Grab case by the Allahabad High Court on 18 September. In this case, Cedar was registered at the Civil Lines Police Station in Rampur, after which Khan transferred the High Court demanding bail.
On 10 September, the Allahabad High Court also granted him bail in another case related to the alleged forcibly eviction of residents of Dungarpur Colony in Rampur.
Earlier, Khan was acquitted by a special MP-MLA court in the 17-year-old case including allegations of road blockade and damage to public property.
Over the years, 16 FIRs have been lodged against Azam Khan against covering a wide range of criminal allegations.
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SD/DPB