Court clears Dr Tazeen Fatima of all charges in the alleged theft at Humsafar Resort
Team Clarion
RAMPUR — In a significant legal victory, Dr Tazeen Fatima, the wife of Samajwadi Party stalwart Azam Khan, was on Monday acquitted by a court in a four-year-old electricity theft case. The case, which dates back to 2019, involved allegations of electricity theft at the Humsafar Resort, a property owned by the former Rajya Sabha member.
The allegations surfaced when Junior Engineer Rahul Ranjan from Dingarpur Power Station filed an FIR on September 5, 2019, accusing Dr Fatima of illegally using electricity at the resort. It was claimed that approximately 33 KW of electricity was being stolen, despite the resort having only a 5 KW connection. The Electricity Department subsequently imposed a fine of Rs 30 lakh on Dr Fatima under the Electricity Theft Act.
After a prolonged legal battle, the MP/MLA Sessions Court, hearing the case, ruled in favour of Dr Fatima, leading to her acquittal. Upon leaving the court, Dr Fatima expressed her relief and gratitude, stating: “Today, the truth has won. This was a baseless accusation, just like many others against us.”
She said the case was “another attempt to tarnish our reputation, but justice has prevailed.”
Dr Fatima’s lawyer, Nasir Sultan, said the fine was paid under duress as it was necessary to obtain No Objection Certificates (NOCs) during the time of elections. “The accusation was forced, and the payment was made to fulfill legal obligations, not because of guilt,” he explained.
The case began when officials from the Electricity Department, along with the SDM, raided the Humsafar Resort in 2019. The raid resulted in the discovery of an additional line that was allegedly being used to bypass the electricity meter. As a result, the Electricity Department not only cut off the power supply to the resort but also confiscated the wiring.
The ruling has brought relief to Dr Fatima and her supporters, reinforcing their belief that the accusations were politically motivated. As she walked out of the court, she reiterated her faith in the judicial system, “I thank the court for this decision, which upholds the truth and integrity of the law.”
The acquittal of Dr Tazeen Fatima is expected to resonate within political circles, particularly given the high-profile nature of the case and the prominent position of the Khan family in Uttar Pradesh’s political landscape.
