Allahabad High Court grants bail to Azam Khan in land grab case

Senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan has received a major relief from the Allahabad High Court. The single bench of Justice Sameer Jain has granted him bail in the Quality Bar land grab case, opening the path for his release from jail. The decision, delivered on September 18, 2025, comes nearly a month after the High Court had reserved its judgment in the matter on August 21.

This order marks another significant development in the long legal battle faced by the veteran SP politician, who has been embroiled in multiple criminal cases over the years.

Bail granted in land grab case

The FIR in the Quality Bar land case was initially registered at the Civil Lines police station in Rampur. Interestingly, Azam Khan’s name was not mentioned in the original FIR. However, after five years, a reinvestigation was conducted and the SP leader was included as an accused in the matter.

Khan, who has faced several legal challenges in recent years, approached the High Court seeking bail. His plea was heard and the court reserved its decision on August 21, before finally announcing a favourable verdict for him. With this ruling, Khan will soon walk out of jail after spending time in custody over the case.

This is not the first instance where the Allahabad High Court has granted him relief. Only a few days earlier, on September 10, the same court gave Khan bail in another matter related to the alleged forced eviction of residents from Rampur’s Dungarpur colony. In that case too, Justice Sameer Jain had delivered the ruling, allowing Khan bail while he challenged a 10-year jail sentence handed down by a special MP/MLA court in Rampur.

Acquitted in 2008 public property damage case

Khan’s legal troubles date back decades, but he has also seen acquittals in some cases. On September 16, he was acquitted by a special MP-MLA court in a 17-year-old case from 2008. That case alleged that Khan and his supporters had blocked a road near the Chhajlet police station in Rampur, causing a traffic jam and damage to public property. The incident reportedly began when police removed a hooter from Khan’s vehicle, sparking protests.

During the trial, Khan’s defence counsel, Shahnawaz Sibtain Naqvi, produced seven witnesses in support of the SP leader. The prosecution, however, produced only one witness. The imbalance in testimonies ultimately favoured Khan, leading to his acquittal. His legal team described it as a clear win, underlining that the evidence against him was too weak to hold up in court.

This acquittal came as an important victory for Khan, who has often claimed that the large number of cases filed against him are politically motivated. His supporters within the Samajwadi Party have echoed this view, portraying him as a victim of legal harassment.

Multiple cases over the years

Azam Khan’s name has been linked to a wide range of criminal cases. According to available records, as many as 16 FIRs have been registered against him over the years. These cases cover a variety of charges, ranging from intimidation and conspiracy to robbery and violations of the Arms Act.

The year 2014 was particularly tough for him, as 10 separate FIRs were lodged in that year alone. Some of the most serious charges he has faced include Section 120B IPC (criminal conspiracy), Sections 392/397 IPC (robbery and robbery with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt), Sections 457/427 IPC (house trespass and mischief causing damage), and provisions of the Arms Act.

The most recent case registered against him was at Vasant Vihar police station. It included charges under Section 506 IPC (criminal intimidation), Section 120B IPC (criminal conspiracy), and Section 25 of the Arms Act.

Despite the volume of cases, Khan has continued to remain a prominent figure in the Samajwadi Party. Known as one of the party’s senior-most leaders, he has been a close aide of the SP’s leadership and has served in several political and legislative roles.

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Political significance

The latest bail order is expected to energise Khan’s supporters, who have been vocal about his prolonged legal battles. For the Samajwadi Party, his release is likely to have political resonance in Rampur, a constituency long regarded as Khan’s stronghold.

Observers believe that with bail in key cases, Khan could re-emerge as a stronger political voice in Uttar Pradesh ahead of upcoming electoral contests. At the same time, his multiple pending cases mean that his legal troubles are far from over.

The bail in the Quality Bar land grab case, however, gives him much-needed breathing space and a chance to reconnect with his political base. For the moment, Azam Khan can step out of jail with renewed confidence, backed by favourable court orders in quick succession.