New Delhi: Samajwadi Party MLA Abdullah Azam, who is the son of senior party leader Azam Khan, may lose his post after a special court on Monday sentenced him and his father to two years’ imprisonment in a 15-year-old case of blocking traffic.
The two leaders had blocked traffic in protest on January 2, 2008 after their car was stopped for a police check in Moradabad, according to the Indian Express. This incident took place a day after an attack on a CRPF camp in Rampur district, killing seven jawans and a rickshaw driver.
“Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Smita Goswami sentenced Azam Khan and his son Abdullah to two years imprisonment. A fine of Rs 3,000 each was also imposed on them. Later, Azam Khan and his son filed a bail application, which was granted by court. They were released after submitting the required surety,” said Nitin Gupta, District Government Counsel (DGC), Moradabad, said according to the Indian Express.
The two were found guilty under IPC Sections 341 (wrongful restraint) and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), and under the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act.
Seven other accused were reportedly acquitted in the case, citing a lack of evidence.
The prosecution had argued that Abdullah Azam, who was driving the car, failed to produce the vehicle’s documents in front of the police.
Abdullah is the sitting MLA from Suar in Rampur.