In a setback for Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, the MP-MLA Special Court in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, dismissed his appeal against a two-year sentence for making an objectionable remark about a district magistrate in 2019. The court upheld the lower court’s decision, confirming the sentence and a fine of Rs 5,000 imposed on Khan by Special Magistrate Shobhit Bansal on May 16.
Prosecution Officer Seema Rana stated that Khan’s appeal was rejected by Special Judge Vijay Kumar. The case stemmed from a video of Khan’s derogatory comments about the district magistrate during a roadshow in Rampur’s Bhot police station area amid the 2019 election campaign. Khan had referred to the DM as a ‘Tankhaiya’ (salaried person) and made disrespectful remarks, leading to legal action.
The incident, which occurred in Mankara village, prompted a complaint from the then SDM of Tanda and Assistant Returning Officer of Chamraua Assembly constituency, Ghanshyam Tripathi. Following an investigation and charge sheet by the police, the case proceeded in the MP-MLA court, culminating in the rejection of Khan’s appeal against his conviction.
