Lucknow: Senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan has not got any major relief from the Supreme Court. The apex court has sent his petition challenging the arrest of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to the Allahabad High Court. The court has said that the High Court is the right place to hear this case. Let us tell you, on October 29, the sentence of Azam Khan and his son Abdullah Azam was stayed in the two PAN card case. Shortly after this, ED arrested him in another case. Since then, Azam Khan had approached the Supreme Court calling the arrest wrong.
The petition will reach the High Court in two days
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymala Bagchi heard the case. The court said that the petition should be sent to the High Court within two days. Also, Allahabad High Court has been asked to pass an interim order on Azam Khan’s bail plea in the ED case on November 16. Senior lawyer Kapil Sibal appeared in the court on behalf of Azam Khan. He had also challenged the order of November 1, in which the special court had decided to send Azam Khan to judicial custody. The petition sought release from custody as interim relief.
‘I am 80 years old, I will die in jail’
During the hearing, Kapil Sibal said, “I am ready to face everything, but I want bail. I am 80 years old. I have been arrested in the ED case and there are 28 more cases. In such a situation, I will die in jail itself.” He alleged that this arrest was made only to keep him in jail during the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Sibal said that as soon as he came out of jail, ED arrested him from outside.
He also said that the case dates back to 2006 and the FIR was registered in 2019. In such a situation, how was PMLA implemented in this? Questioning the allegations, he said that in the complaints, things like Rs 5,000, gold earrings, goat and cow have been mentioned as income earned from crime. On this, the Chief Justice said that his point may have merit, but the court does not want to give any opinion on this right now.
What was said in the petition?
It has been said in the petition that Azam Khan, about 78 years old, has been a ten-time MLA, former cabinet minister, opposition leader and MP. The manner and timing of his arrest is completely wrong. Allegations have been made that the criminal justice system is being used for political purposes to keep an opposition leader in jail for a long time, especially in view of the UP Assembly elections.