ED arrests SP leader Azam Khan in Jauhar trust money-laundering case after release from jail

The Allahabad High Court on Thursday granted relief to senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan and his son, Abdullah Khan, by suspending their sentence and granting them bail in the dual PAN card case.

However, the court declined to stay their conviction, meaning the verdict against the father and son remains in force. Their release from jail will also depend on the legal status of other pending cases against them.

Justice Samit Gopal passed the order while hearing criminal revision petitions filed by the two challenging their conviction and sentence by the lower courts in the case involving two PAN cards.

According to the prosecution, the case concerns the alleged procurement and use of a second PAN card bearing a different date of birth. The allegations also include the purported use of the second PAN card in nomination documents filed for an election.

Senior counsel representing Azam Khan argued the matter before the High Court. The defence challenged the lower court's verdict through criminal revision petitions, seeking suspension of the sentence and bail while the proceedings remained pending.

The High Court accepted their plea for suspension of sentence and granted bail but refused to suspend the conviction itself.

Conviction remains in force

The distinction is legally significant. While suspension of sentence allows a convicted person to remain out on bail during the pendency of an appeal or revision, a stay on conviction temporarily suspends the legal consequences arising from the conviction.

In this case, the court has not granted a stay on conviction. The verdict against Azam Khan and Abdullah Khan will therefore continue to stand until the revision petitions are finally decided.

The final adjudication of the criminal revision petitions will take place separately.

Despite securing bail in the dual PAN card case, the father and son may still have to deal with proceedings in other pending cases before they can be released from jail.

(with agencies input)