The Allahabad High Court has issued a stay on the arrest of Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan regarding a re-investigation into a house demolition case dating back to 2007. The case, which involved the alleged demolition of a house at the behest of Azam Khan, who was then a minister in Uttar Pradesh, has been lingering since an FIR was filed on July 10, 2007, at Ganj police station in Rampur district.
The bench, comprising Justice Rajiv Gupta and Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra, responded to a petition filed by Khan seeking relief from arrest and possibly quashing of the FIR. The court has directed the state government and the counsel for the informant to file a counter-affidavit and has scheduled the next hearing for May 5, 2025.
In the FIR lodged against Khan, charges of mischief, criminal trespass, common intention, and extortion were detailed. However, after the initial police investigation, a final report submitted on December 7, 2007, exonerated Khan, citing lack of evidence against him. Despite this, a protest petition against the final report led to a protracted legal battle, which has seen little progress since the notices issued to the first informant in 2007.
During the latest hearing, Khan’s counsel, Imran Ullah, argued that the FIR did not disclose any offense against his client and contended that it should be quashed. The court, after considering the submissions from both parties, decided that the matter warranted further examination before any conclusive decision could be made.
This stay on Azam Khan’s arrest provides temporary relief for the veteran politician, allowing him more time to prepare for the ongoing legal proceedings while he continues to contend with multiple legal challenges.
