Senior SP leader Azam Khan released from Sitapur jail after securing bail in nearly 80 cases. His political career, however, remains entangled in multiple convictions and appeals.

Senior Samajwadi Party leader Mohammad Azam Khan has been released from Sitapur jail after almost two years in custody, ending his second stint behind bars. Once a dominant figure in Rampur politics, Khan’s fall has been marked by nearly 80 criminal cases, ranging from land disputes to hate speech.

His troubles began ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with a hate speech case and snowballed rapidly, with dozens of FIRs filed after the BJP came to power in Uttar Pradesh. While he has secured bail in most matters, he still carries multiple convictions and appeals, keeping his political future uncertain.

Khan’s family — wife Tanzeen Fatima and son Abdullah — have also faced court battles, with Abdullah losing his Assembly seat after disqualification. Despite repeated setbacks, Khan contested and won elections from jail, showing his enduring clout in Rampur.

Observers note that his prolonged legal struggles reflect not just his personal downfall but also the BJP’s aggressive stance against opposition leaders in UP. For Rampur’s voters, the saga has created both sympathy and fatigue, raising doubts about whether Khan can reclaim his old influence.