A special MP/MLA court in Lucknow acquits senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan in the case alleging hate speech against RSS and Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawad
LUCKNOW – Former minister and senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan was acquitted on Friday by a special MP/MLA court in a 2019 case that accused him of spreading hatred, misusing government letterhead, and defaming the RSS, BJP, and Shia cleric Maulana Syed Kalbe Jawad Naqvi.
The verdict, delivered by Special ACJM (MP/MLA Court) Alok Verma, declared that the prosecution failed to produce sufficient evidence and that the case itself was time-barred under Section 468 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
The court noted that the alleged incident occurred in 2014, while the FIR was lodged five years later, in 2019, well beyond the legally permissible period for initiating proceedings.
In his detailed order, Judge Verma wrote, “After considering all the facts and arguments, it is clear that the prosecution could not prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt. The accused, Azam Khan, is therefore acquitted of all charges.”
The court also highlighted several flaws in the case, including the absence of the original press release on which the entire complaint was based, and the lack of any reference to it in the police investigation diary.
Azam Khan’s legal team argued that the complaint was filed by Allama Aamir Naqvi on behalf of Maulana Kalbe Jawad, even though Maulana Jawad himself was neither the victim nor legally entitled to file a defamation complaint.
During cross-examination, Aamir Naqvi admitted that he had suffered no personal defamation. The court observed that under Section 199 of the CrPC, only a directly aggrieved person or someone legally authorised can file a complaint of this nature.
After the verdict, an emotional Azam Khan thanked the court and expressed deep respect for the judicial process.
“This decision has been made with great honesty,” he told reporters outside the court. “I can only pray for the judge and thank him. Today, justice has triumphed.”
He added, “As far as law and order are concerned, now only ‘order’ remains. Law should also exist in the form of justice, as it has today.”
The FIR was filed at the Hazratganj police station in Lucknow on 1 February 2019, accusing Khan of abusing his ministerial position to publish defamatory content against the BJP, RSS, and Maulana Kalbe Jawad, claiming that it harmed their national and international reputation.
The complaint also alleged that the FIR was suppressed under government pressure at the time.
The acquittal marks another relief for Azam Khan, who has faced dozens of cases over the years, many of which were filed during periods of political hostility.
A close associate of the leader told Clarion India, “This is not just Azam Khan’s victory; it is a victory of truth and justice. He has been wrongly targeted for years because he is a powerful Muslim voice who speaks against discrimination.”
Political observers say the verdict could restore Khan’s moral standing within the Samajwadi Party and among his supporters, particularly in Rampur, where he remains a respected figure.
Several Muslim leaders welcomed the court’s decision, calling it a reaffirmation of faith in the judiciary. Maulana Rahmat Ali, a cleric from Lucknow, said, “Azam Khan has always spoken for the poor and the oppressed. His acquittal shows that justice may be delayed, but it is not denied.”
Social activist Shabana Begum commented, “For years, Muslim leaders have faced legal harassment under false charges. The court’s decision sends a positive message that law still protects the innocent.”
Azam Khan’s political journey has been marked by controversy, imprisonment, and repeated court battles. Yet, Friday’s acquittal has brought him renewed hope.
As he left the courtroom, smiling and surrounded by supporters, he said softly, “Truth cannot be imprisoned forever. Justice has its own time — and that time has come today.”
