Ex-UP minister Azam Khan, son granted bail by Supreme Court

THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK

New Delhi, Feb 13: The Supreme Court has granted bail to former Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan and his son Abdullah Azam Khan in a machine theft case, setting aside an earlier Allahabad High Court order that denied their bail request.

The case dates back to 2014, with allegations that they, along with five others, stole a road-cleaning machine purchased by the Nagar Palika Parishad in Rampur district. The machine was later recovered from Jauhar University, reportedly linked to Khan.

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The case was filed in 2022 following an FIR lodged at Kotwali, Rampur, by a complainant named Wakar Ali Khan. Khan and his son had challenged the Allahabad High Court’s September 21 order in the Supreme Court.

A bench comprising Justices M M Sundresh and Rajesh Bindal considered the duration of their incarceration and the fact that the chargesheet had already been filed. The court in its order dated February 10 granted bail, subject to conditions set by the trial court, including cooperation in the trial and a commitment not to influence witnesses.

It also allowed the state to seek cancellation of bail if any conditions were violated. The trial court retains full authority to proceed with the case regardless of the conduct of the parties.