Azam Khan ED arrest: NDA leaders say law judges crimes, not religion
Synopsis
A day after the Enforcement Directorate arrested Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan in a ₹426.46 crore money laundering case tied to Jauhar University, NDA leaders from the BJP, JD(U), and Shiv Sena uniformly rejected his claim of religious targeting — arguing that his recent bail in the dual PAN card case offers no shield against fresh ED charges.
Key Takeaways
The Enforcement Directorate arrested Azam Khan on 31 October in a money laundering case involving assets worth ₹426.46 crore linked to Mohammad Ali Jauhar University , Rampur .
Khan asked, 'Is this the punishment for being a Muslim?' as he was taken away, framing his arrest as religious targeting.
The Allahabad High Court had granted Khan and his son Abdullah Khan bail in the dual PAN card case just days before the ED arrest.
UP MoS Narendra Kashyap , Bihar BJP chief Sanjay Saraogi , JD(U) leaders, and Shiv Sena spokesperson Krishna Hegde all rejected the religious-targeting claim.
Bihar BJP chief Sanjay Saraogi alleged Khan built an empire of ₹1,170 crore by exploiting the poor and weak farmers.
NDA leaders argued bail in one case does not dissolve other ongoing ED investigations.
Several National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders on Sunday, 1 November 2026, pushed back against Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan's claim that he was being 'targeted' for his religion, asserting that the Enforcement Directorate (ED)'s arrest was rooted in evidence of financial wrongdoing and not religious bias. The remarks came a day after the ED took Khan into custody in a money laundering case.
The Arrest and Khan's Reaction
On 31 October, the Enforcement Directorate arrested Azam Khan in connection with the provisional attachment of land and buildings belonging to Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur district, Uttar Pradesh, with assets valued at ₹426.46 crore. Speaking to reporters moments before being taken away by the agency, Khan said, 'Is this the punishment for being a Muslim?'
The arrest followed a brief respite: the Allahabad High Court had, on Thursday, suspended Khan's sentence in the dual PAN card case and granted bail to him and his son Abdullah Khan. NDA leaders argued that bail in one case does not immunise a person from other ongoing investigations.
What NDA Leaders Said
Uttar Pradesh Minister of State Narendra Kashyap was among the first to respond. 'The law, Parliament and the Constitution do not judge a person based on religion. The law judges a person based on their crimes,' he said. Kashyap added that if evidence showed Khan possessed assets disproportionate to his income, or was involved in forgery, physical violence, or theft, 'then the investigation is valid.'
Bihar Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State President Sanjay Saraogi stated that the law is equal for all. 'Claiming that you are being attacked and oppressed because of your religion is not going to exempt you from the crimes you have committed,' Saraogi said. He alleged that Khan had 'built an empire of ₹1,170 crore by oppressing the poor, orphans, and weak farmers,' and added, 'There is no religion in money laundering and corruption.'
Allies in the NDA Echo the Charge
Janata Dal (United) National General Secretary Shyam Rajak pointed to the distinction between cases. 'On the one hand, the judiciary decided to bail him; on the other hand, there might be more cases in which he was accused by the ED. It doesn't mean that if he is bailed in one crime, the other ones will be dissolved too,' Rajak said.
JD(U) National Spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan alleged that Khan had wielded considerable influence during the SP government in Uttar Pradesh, saying, 'He committed many financial crimes then.' Ranjan called the ED proceedings 'a good opportunity for Azam Khan to prove his innocence to the financial institutions of the state.'
Shiv Sena spokesperson Krishna Hegde noted that Khan would need to face questioning across multiple matters. 'Azam Khan has already spent time in jail; his son has been released, but he will have to face the ED,' Hegde said.
Background and Context
This is not Azam Khan's first brush with legal proceedings. The SP veteran has faced a long series of cases over the years, ranging from land-grabbing allegations related to Jauhar University to hate speech charges. He served an extended period in jail before receiving bail in several of those matters. Notably, his son Abdullah was also arrested in some of the connected cases before the Allahabad High Court's recent order.
The ED's intervention in the Jauhar University land case marks a significant escalation, as the money laundering charges carry potentially heavier legal consequences. The SP has so far not issued a formal response to the NDA leaders' remarks, and Khan's legal team is expected to mount a challenge to the ED custody.
What Comes Next
The ED is expected to question Azam Khan across multiple pending matters during the custody period. Legal observers note that the agency will need to establish a financial trail connecting the attached properties to alleged proceeds of crime. Any fresh remand applications or bail petitions are likely to be heard by the competent court in the coming days, making this a closely watched legal and political flashpoint ahead of Uttar Pradesh's political calendar.
Point of View
But it does not square with the legal record here: the ED's action is tied to documented asset attachments valued at nearly ₹430 crore, not a vague allegation. NDA's swift, coordinated rebuttal suggests the ruling alliance sees a political opening in framing this as rule-of-law enforcement rather than minority persecution. The more significant question mainstream coverage is glossing over is the judiciary's simultaneous bail grant in the PAN card case — it signals that courts are drawing sharp distinctions between cases, which the ED will need to navigate carefully to sustain the money laundering charge. If the financial trail does not withstand scrutiny, the religious-targeting narrative could gain traction well beyond Khan's immediate constituency.
NationPress
1 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Azam Khan arrested by the ED?
The Enforcement Directorate arrested Azam Khan on 31 October in a money laundering case connected to the provisional attachment of land and buildings belonging to Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, with assets valued at ₹426.46 crore. The ED alleges these assets are proceeds of crime.
What did Azam Khan say at the time of his arrest?
As he was being taken away by ED officials, Azam Khan said, 'Is this the punishment for being a Muslim?' — framing the arrest as religiously motivated. NDA leaders and legal commentators have contested that characterisation, pointing to the documented asset attachment at the root of the case.
How did NDA leaders respond to Khan's remarks?
Leaders from the BJP, JD(U), and Shiv Sena uniformly rejected Khan's claim of religious targeting. UP MoS Narendra Kashyap stated that the law judges people by their crimes, not their religion, while Bihar BJP chief Sanjay Saraogi said claiming religious oppression cannot exempt someone from criminal liability.
Did Azam Khan receive bail recently, and does it affect the ED case?
Yes — the Allahabad High Court suspended Khan's sentence in the dual PAN card case and granted him bail just days before the ED arrest. However, NDA leaders and legal observers note that bail in one case does not dissolve charges in other independent investigations; the ED proceedings are a separate matter.
What is Mohammad Ali Jauhar University and its connection to the case?
Mohammad Ali Jauhar University is a private institution in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, founded under Azam Khan's political patronage. The ED has provisionally attached land and buildings belonging to the university, valued at ₹426.46 crore, alleging they were acquired through proceeds of money laundering.
