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Allahabad High Court suspends the sentences of senior Samjawadi party leader Azam Khan and his son Abdullah Azam Khan in the dual PAN card case. (Img: X)
Lucknow: The Allahabad High Court on Thursday granted bail to senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan and his son Abdullah Azam Khan and suspended their sentence in two matters related to the possession of dual PAN cards.
The single-judge Bench of Justice Samit Gopal, however, rejected their request to stay the convictions recorded by the trial court. The Bench ruled that the trial court’s findings would remain in force unless modified or overturned through further judicial proceedings.
The father and son had approached the High Court through a criminal revision petition challenging the trial court’s decision. Their plea sought a stay on the convictions, suspension of the sentences and release on bail. The court reserved its verdict on October 15 after hearing arguments from both sides before pronouncing its order on Thursday.
## Dual PAN Card Case: Why Azam Khan and Abdullah Azam Were Convicted
The case concerns allegations that Abdullah Azam Khan possessed two Permanent Account Number cards carrying different dates of birth. The prosecution alleged that the discrepancies in the documents formed the basis for criminal proceedings against Abdullah and his father, Azam Khan.
The case originated from a complaint filed by BJP leader and MLA Akash Saxena. An FIR was registered at Rampur’s Civil Lines police station in 2019, leading to criminal proceedings against the father-son duo.
On November 17, 2025, a Rampur MP-MLA court convicted both men and sentenced each to seven years of imprisonment. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on each accused.
Following the conviction, both were lodged in Rampur jail. Azam Khan subsequently challenged the sentence, but an appeal before the MP-MLA Sessions Court was dismissed on April 20, 2026, according to the supplied case details.
Their subsequent criminal revision petition before the Allahabad High Court sought relief against the conviction and sentence. The latest order grants them bail and suspends their sentences, but leaves the convictions intact.
## Why the Conviction Still Matters Despite Bail
The High Court’s decision draws an important distinction between immediate relief from custody and the legal consequences of a conviction.
The suspension of a sentence can allow an accused person to obtain release on bail, subject to the applicable court order and release formalities. However, where the conviction itself has not been stayed, the legal consequences attached to that conviction may continue.
For Azam Khan and Abdullah Azam, this means the order should not be interpreted as a clean acquittal or an automatic restoration of electoral eligibility. Any further consequences will depend on the applicable law, the precise terms of the judicial orders and subsequent proceedings.
The ruling is therefore an important interim development in a case that has had substantial implications for the political careers of both Samajwadi Party leaders.
## BJP Reacts to Allahabad High Court Order
The High Court’s decision prompted a sharp political response from a BJP spokesperson, who maintained that the suspension of the sentences did not erase the convictions.
The BJP representative criticised the father-son duo over their legal controversies and alleged wrongdoing, arguing that the distinction between suspension of a sentence and a stay on conviction remained crucial. The party’s response underscored its position that the court had not overturned the trial court’s findings.
The reaction highlights the political sensitivity surrounding the case, with the ruling likely to remain a point of contention between the BJP and the Samajwadi Party.
For the SP, the grant of bail represents a significant legal reprieve for a senior leader and his son. However, the refusal to stay their convictions leaves an important part of their legal battle unresolved.
## ED Attaches Mohammad Ali Jauhar University Properties Worth Rs 1,170 Crore
The bail order comes a day after the Enforcement Directorate announced action against land and buildings associated with Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, adding another significant development to the legal challenges surrounding Azam Khan.
On October 28, the ED’s Lucknow zonal office attached university-related properties under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. The properties have a reported book value of approximately Rs 426 crore and an estimated current market value of Rs 1,170 crore.
The university campus is situated at Jauhar Nagar in Singhankhera village in Rampur district. The land and buildings are held by the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust, which was founded and is controlled by Azam Khan. He also serves as the university’s honorary Chancellor.
The attachment relates to a money-laundering investigation involving the trust, Azam Khan and others. The ED initiated its investigation based on 26 FIRs registered at Azeem Nagar police station in Rampur under provisions including Section 384 of the Indian Penal Code, concerning allegations of extortion and the forcible acquisition of agricultural land.
According to the agency, its investigation drew upon an inquiry report submitted by the Rampur district administration. The ED alleged that agricultural land belonging to farmers had been forcibly taken over for the university.
The agency also alleged that 45 plots classified as enemy property, measuring approximately 34 acres in Singhankhera village, had been illegally occupied for the university despite the cancellation of the land lease granted to the trust.
These allegations form part of a separate investigation and should not be confused with the dual PAN card prosecution. The property attachment is an enforcement action under money-laundering legislation and does not, by itself, constitute a final judicial determination of criminal liability.
The latest order places Azam Khan and Abdullah Azam in a more favourable position regarding their immediate custody, but it does not resolve the wider legal and political questions arising from their convictions.
