Uttar Pradesh: Samajwadi Party Leader Azam Khan To Be Released From Sitapur Jail After 23 Months

Senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and former Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Mohammad Azam Khan is set to walk out of Sitapur jail on Tuesday (23 September) after spending nearly 23 months behind bars, reported NDTV.

His release, originally scheduled for 8 AM., faced a brief delay as Khan forgot to pay the fine of Rs 8,000 in two separate cases. He must first settle the fine in court before being sent back to Sitapur jail for verification. Only after this process will he be officially released.

Authorities imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 in Sitapur city ahead of his release. Police have been making announcements through loudspeakers, warning citizens not to gather near the jail.

Despite these measures, SP workers, leaders, and supporters have gathered outside the jail, prompting authorities to disperse crowds and fine several vehicles.

Sitapur Circle Officer Vinayak Bhosle told reporters, "Everyone knows that the roads in the city are narrow and due to Navratri, there is a lot of crowd on the streets. No one is allowed to stand without reason here. Section 144 is in force, under which we are taking action. The crowd is being removed from the roads."

Preparations to welcome Khan have been organised by SP district president Chhatrapal Singh Yadav, who said, "We have come to welcome him. He is our leader. His arrival will strengthen the party even more." SP MLA Anil Kumar Verma added, "After a long time, the legal proceedings have concluded. We thank the court for this."

Khan received bail from the Allahabad High Court on 18 September in the Quality Bar land grab case, following an FIR lodged at Rampur's Civil Lines police station.

Earlier this month, the court also granted him bail in a separate case linked to the alleged forced eviction of residents from Rampur's Dungarpur colony.

Over the years, authorities have filed 16 FIRs against him across a range of criminal charges, and he was previously acquitted in a 17-year-old case involving road blockade and property damage.

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