Azam Khan's 2-year jail sentence upheld by Rampur MP-MLA court over DM remark
Synopsis
Azam Khan's appeal against a two-year jail sentence for calling a district magistrate a 'Tankhaiya' during the 2019 election campaign has been dismissed by the Rampur MP-MLA Sessions Court — a ruling that deepens the legal crisis surrounding one of Uttar Pradesh's most influential opposition politicians and keeps alive his disqualification from electoral contests.
Key Takeaways
The MP-MLA Special Court (Sessions Trial), Rampur dismissed Azam Khan's appeal on 18 July , upholding his two-year prison sentence.
The original conviction was handed down on 16 May by Special Magistrate Shobhit Bansal , along with a fine of ₹5,000 .
The case relates to remarks Khan made at Mankara village, Rampur during the 2019 Lok Sabha election campaign , calling the then DM a 'Tankhaiya' .
The Election Commission of India had taken cognisance after the video went viral, leading to a complaint by SDM Ghanshyam Tripathi .
A sentence of two or more years disqualifies a legislator from contesting elections under the Representation of the People Act, 1951 .
Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan suffered a fresh legal setback on Saturday, 18 July, as the MP-MLA Special Court (Sessions Trial) in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, dismissed his appeal against a two-year prison sentence for making an objectionable remark against a district magistrate during the 2019 Lok Sabha election campaign. The sessions court upheld the conviction order originally passed by a lower court, leaving Khan with limited legal options in this particular case.
What the Court Decided
Prosecution Officer Seema Rana confirmed the ruling after the hearing. 'An appeal was filed in the court of the Special Judge (MP-MLA/Sessions Court) Vijay Kumar. This appeal was lodged against the conviction order passed by the lower court. Today, Mohammad Azam Khan's appeal has been dismissed, and the order of the lower court has been upheld,' she said.
The original sentence — two years of imprisonment along with a fine of ₹5,000 — had been handed down on 16 May by Special Magistrate Shobhit Bansal. Khan had promptly challenged that order in the MP-MLA Sessions Court, which has now rejected his plea.
The 2019 Incident That Triggered the Case
The case traces back to a roadshow held in the Bhot police station area of Rampur during the 2019 general election campaign, when Azam Khan was contesting as the Samajwadi Party candidate. According to the prosecution, a video of his remarks made at Mankara village went viral on social media, prompting the Election Commission of India (ECI) to take cognisance and seek a report.
In the video, Khan allegedly called the then District Magistrate a 'Tankhaiya' (a salaried employee) and urged voters not to take him seriously. He also reportedly said that after the election, he would make the officials clean his shoes — remarks the prosecution characterised as derogatory and intended to undermine a public servant during an active election period.
How the Case Was Registered
A formal complaint was filed at the Bhot police station by the then Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Tanda and Assistant Returning Officer of Chamraua Assembly constituency, Ghanshyam Tripathi. Following a police investigation, a charge sheet was filed and the trial was conducted before the MP-MLA court, which specialises in cases involving sitting and former legislators.
Khan's Mounting Legal Troubles
This ruling adds to a series of convictions that have marked Azam Khan's recent years. The veteran politician, currently in judicial custody, has faced multiple criminal cases ranging from land grab allegations to hate speech charges. This is at least the second significant conviction to be confirmed at the appellate stage, underscoring the legal pressure mounting on one of Uttar Pradesh's most prominent opposition figures.
Notably, a conviction carrying a sentence of two or more years renders a sitting or former legislator disqualified from contesting elections under the Representation of the People Act, 1951 — a consequence that has already affected Khan's political standing. Legal observers will now watch whether he approaches a higher court to seek a stay on the sentence.
Point of View
Steadily narrowing his political runway. What makes this conviction particularly consequential is the two-year threshold — the precise cut-off under the Representation of the People Act that triggers electoral disqualification. Each upheld conviction chips away at any realistic path back to active electoral politics, yet Khan has historically pursued higher courts aggressively. The real question is whether the Supreme Court or Allahabad High Court grants a stay — and how long that process extends an already protracted legal saga that has kept one of the SP's most polarising voices off the campaign trail at a critical moment for the opposition in Uttar Pradesh.
NationPress
18 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Azam Khan's appeal about and why was it dismissed?
Azam Khan had appealed against his two-year conviction for making an objectionable remark against a district magistrate during the 2019 Lok Sabha campaign. The MP-MLA Special Court (Sessions Trial) in Rampur dismissed the appeal on 18 July, upholding the lower court's conviction order without modification.
What exactly did Azam Khan say that led to this case?
During a roadshow at Mankara village in Rampur in 2019, Khan allegedly called the then District Magistrate a 'Tankhaiya' (salaried employee) and told voters not to take him seriously. He also reportedly said he would make officials clean his shoes after the election. A video of the remarks went viral, prompting the Election Commission to seek a report.
What is the legal impact of a two-year sentence on a politician?
Under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, any legislator or former legislator convicted and sentenced to two or more years of imprisonment is disqualified from contesting elections. This ruling, unless stayed by a higher court, has direct implications for Azam Khan's ability to stand in future polls.
Who filed the original complaint against Azam Khan?
The complaint was filed at Bhot police station by Ghanshyam Tripathi, the then Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Tanda and Assistant Returning Officer of Chamraua Assembly constituency, after the Election Commission of India took cognisance of the viral video.
What are Azam Khan's legal options now?
With the sessions court dismissing his appeal, Khan can approach the Allahabad High Court or, ultimately, the Supreme Court to challenge the conviction or seek a stay on the sentence. A stay would temporarily halt the disqualification implications while the higher court considers the matter.
