Samajwadi Party's Azam Khan and Son Sentenced to 7 Years for PAN Card Fraud

The senior Samajwadi Party leader was released from Sitapur jail on September 23 after 23 months of incarceration.

Rampur:

Senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Mohammad Azam Khan and his son Abdullah Azam were convicted on Monday by a special MP/MLA court in Rampur. Both received seven-year jail sentences for a 2019 case involving the acquisition of dual PAN cards with different birth dates, according to prosecution officer Rakesh Kumar Maurya.

Following the sentencing, Khan was escorted to the district jail under heavy security. When questioned about the court's decision, the 77-year-old leader remarked, "What is there to say now? It is the court's decision." When asked about the seven-year sentences given to both him and his son, Khan responded, "It is fine. If they have considered me guilty, they have given the punishment."

Special Magistrate Shobhit Bansal of the MP/MLA Court delivered the verdict after examining documentary evidence and witness testimonies. Prosecution Officer Rakesh Kumar Maurya represented the state alongside advocate Swadesh Sharma.

The veteran SP leader had been released from Sitapur jail on September 23 after serving 23 months. Prior to that, he had been imprisoned for a consecutive 27 months.

According to the prosecution, Khan's seven-year sentence will be reduced by the time he has already spent in judicial custody for this case.

Maurya indicated that the prosecution would review the judgment and might consider filing an appeal if they believe the punishment is insufficient.

When asked if Khan and Abdullah would be taken into custody following the conviction, Maurya confirmed, "Yes, absolutely."

The case originated in 2019 when BJP leader Akash Saxena filed a complaint at Rampur's Civil Lines police station. Charges were filed under IPC sections 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for cheating), 471 (using forged document), and 120-B (criminal conspiracy).

According to prosecutors, Abdullah obtained a PAN card from the Income Tax Department listing January 1, 1993, as his birth date, matching his school and High School certificate records. This same date appeared in his State Bank of India account records.

The court determined that Abdullah had procured the forged PAN card "in conspiracy with his father" and submitted it in official documents.

Maurya explained that the court imposed different prison terms for various IPC sections. For cheating under Section 420, both received three years' simple imprisonment with a Rs 10,000 fine, plus three additional months if the fine isn't paid.

Under Section 467, they received seven years' imprisonment and a Rs 10,000 fine, with six additional months upon default. For Section 468 violations, they were sentenced to three years and fined Rs 10,000, with three months' additional imprisonment for non-payment.

Under Section 471, they received two years' simple imprisonment and a Rs 10,000 fine. For criminal conspiracy under Section 120-B, the court imposed one year's simple imprisonment and a Rs 10,000 fine, with an additional month if unpaid.

Maurya clarified that the seven-year sentence was given under Section 467 IPC, which can carry up to life imprisonment. The magistrate exercised authority to impose a seven-year sentence, the maximum within his jurisdiction.

The prosecution indicated they would review the judgment and might appeal if they consider the punishment inadequate.

Khan has faced 84 cases total, including allegations of land grabbing, corruption, criminal intimidation, goat theft, and cheating. This marks his fourth conviction. He has been acquitted in four cases, while others remain pending.