Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan convicted in 2019 hate speech case, gets 3-year jail term

By: Divya Thearia

28 October 2022 (New Delhi): Azam Khan, a former Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA and former minister, has been convicted for making inflammatory speeches. The court has sentenced him to three years in this case. His legislature can also go out of hand. In such a situation, this is a double blow for Azam. 
This case of hate speech is related to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Azam Khan allegedly made objectionable and inflammatory remarks during an election speech in Rampur’s Milak Vidhan Sabha. The complaint was made by BJP leader Akash Saxena. In this case, the MP-MLA court of Rampur, while giving its verdict on October 27, convicted Azam Khan.

What was the argument given by Azam Khan?

Azam Khan’s lawyer, Vinod Sharma, had said, ‘We have done our full argument. Whatever speeches are, this is not our speech. All these are made in a fake way. The prosecution has not been able to prove its case in court. prosecution and we have completed our arguments. He could not give a clear answer to the points raised by us. We have not given any such hate speech, and a fake case has been prepared against us.”

What options are left for Azam Khan?

Although Azam Khan has been sentenced to jail, he still has some options left. At this time, SP leaders can now approach the lower court. He will have to file a bail application there. If the petition is accepted, then the way out of jail can be cleared, but if the petition is rejected, in that case, Azam will have to approach the High Court. In such a situation, they have some options available, but the road ahead is going to be a bit difficult.

 
Azam, who has been jailed before

Even before this, Azam Khan had gone to jail for two years once. He was lodged in Phulpur Jail. A case was going on regarding wrongful possession of the property of the then Waqf Board. He was sentenced to jail in that case and was behind bars for two years. He was granted bail in that case this year. But as soon as they get out of one trouble, they are caught in another. The hate speech case has again put him on the threshold of jail. On this sentence, Azam Khan says that he has many options left. He will go to the sessions court. He will also approach the high court.

Discussion has also started in political circles on the punishment given to Azam Khan. Manoj Kumar Jha tweeted and wrote, “Is there punishment for hate speech? Sir, till now the custom has been that people have been getting the ranks by serving a series of hate speeches… with apologies to William Shakespeare sir… ‘name’ makes a big difference sir ji…. Jai Hind.”