Uttar Pradesh Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar on Wednesday, 19 August launched a pointed attack on Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav and his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav, alleging that the two leaders are secretly briefing the state government about jailed former Rampur MP Azam Khan's alleged illegal activities — thereby triggering the raids and investigations that have mounted against Khan in recent months.

The ED Raids

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted searches across 10 locations in Rampur, Saharanpur, and Delhi in connection with Azam Khan's alleged illegal assets. Among the premises searched were the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University and its associated trust. The raids are being conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), with investigators seeking proceeds of crime, digital evidence, documents, and financial records related to the alleged diversion and misuse of government funds.

What Rajbhar Alleged

Rajbhar, who also serves as President of the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), made the explosive allegation that SP leaders meet Uttar Pradesh government officials — including, he claimed, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath — under the cover of night to share information about Khan's alleged wrongdoings, which then prompts official action by morning.

'Akhilesh Yadav ji and Shivpal ji are responsible for this. They do not want Azam Khan ji to live. These are the same people who meet Yogi Adityanath at night and criticise the BJP during the day. At night, they tell him about what has been done and ask him to get these things investigated, and then raids begin in the morning. Akhilesh Yadav ji and SP leaders are the biggest ones responsible for this incident,' Rajbhar said.

The remarks are significant coming from a minister within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led alliance in Uttar Pradesh, as they suggest deep fissures within the opposition SP itself rather than a purely government-driven crackdown on a political rival.

SP Hits Back at BJP

The Samajwadi Party, for its part, rejected the framing and turned its fire on the ruling dispensation. SP spokesperson Ashutosh Verma said the BJP engages in 'vindictive politics' and has 'nothing left to offer' the public.

'The Bharatiya Janata Party engages in vindictive politics. It has nothing of its own to offer. Whenever it comes to power, it pursues vindictive politics against previous governments,' Verma said. He added that the BJP is 'harassing people associated with previous governments' because it has run out of positive governance to showcase.

Context and Background

Azam Khan, a veteran Muslim leader and former minister who represented Rampur in the Lok Sabha, has been in judicial custody in connection with multiple cases. The PMLA case involving Jauhar University is one of several legal battles he faces. This is not the first time the ED has moved against properties and institutions linked to Khan — the agency has conducted multiple rounds of scrutiny over the past two years.

Rajbhar's allegations, if accurate, would point to a striking political dynamic: opposition leaders allegedly cooperating with a ruling government to bring down a fellow opposition figure. The SP has not responded directly to Rajbhar's specific claims. As the PMLA probe deepens, all eyes will be on whether fresh chargesheet filings follow the latest round of raids.