Allahabad High Court grants bail to Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan and son Abdullah Azam in dual PAN card case

Allahabad High Court has granted bail to Azam Khan and his son Abdullah Azam Khan in the fake dual Permanent Account Number (PAN) card case. The single-judge bench of Justice Samit Gopal allowed the criminal revision petition moved by the SP leaders, granting them bail and suspending the sentences awarded to them by the trial court. However, the bench did not grant the stay of conviction prayed for by the duo.

Disqualification from contesting elections: Relief not granted

Both the leaders had approached the High Court in order to challenge the trial court's conviction. They had sought interim stay on their conviction along with a suspension of sentences and release from jail. The court reserved its order after hearing arguments on October 15.    

Though suspension of sentences and grant of bail constitute significant interim relief, the bench has denied them any respite in terms of staying of their conviction, which disqualifies them from contesting elections according to the existing statutes.

The criminal case was filed against them on charges of helping his son in securing two PAN cards having different dates of birth.

ED attaches assets of Jauhar University worth Rs 1,170 crores

This is in the wake of enforcement actions taken by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against the SP leader's main project in Rampur.

On October 28, the ED Zonal Office at Lucknow attached assets of Mohammad Ali Jauhar University as per provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Asset valuation: The assets attached have a book value of Rs 426 crore and a market value of Rs 1,170 crore.  

Governing body: The management of the University is under the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust, established and headed by Azam Khan as its Chancellor.  

Money laundering case background: The case of money laundering arose out of 26 FIRs filed in the police station on allegations of forcible acquisition of agricultural lands belonging to local farmers.  

Enemy property claims: According to district administration claims reported by the ED, 45 plots of enemy property of 34 acres were occupied despite cancellation of the lease of the trust.

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