No Immediate Relief: Supreme Court Declines Azam Khan’s Bail Plea in ED Case
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In a major legal setback for veteran Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, the Supreme Court of India on Thursday declined to directly entertain his bail petition in connection with a fresh money laundering case initiated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi redirected the petition to the Allahabad High Court, effectively keeping the 78-year-old politician behind bars for now while setting a firm deadline for the state judiciary to evaluate his interim plea.
Matter Transferred to Allahabad High Court with Directions for November 16 Interim Order
Rather than adjudicating the bail request at the apex level, the Supreme Court requested the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court to assign the case to a dedicated division bench for a formal hearing on November 16. The bench instructed the High Court to pass a definitive interim order on Khan’s petition on that scheduled date, ensuring his plea receives prompt judicial scrutiny at the appropriate jurisdictional forum.
Kapil Sibal Alleges Malice: 'Arrested Right at the Jail Gate to Keep Him Detained During Elections'
Appearing on behalf of Azam Khan, senior advocate Kapil Sibal raised serious questions about the timing and motives behind the central agency's enforcement measures, alleging outright malice in the repeated detentions. Sibal argued before the court that the veteran leader was placed under arrest just as he was about to walk free from detention, submitting that the relentless legal entanglements were calculated to ensure the leader remains incarcerated throughout the upcoming election cycle.
Jauhar Trust Money Laundering Probe and the Chain of Custody Since October 31
The fresh legal hurdle stems from an ongoing financial probe into the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust. The federal financial investigation agency arrested Azam Khan on October 31, shortly after he and his son, Abdullah Azam Khan, secured bail from Rampur district jail in an alleged dual-PAN card case. Following the arrest, the former Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister was presented before a special court in Ghaziabad on November 1, leaving the veteran politician in continuous custody as his legal team prepares for the upcoming November 16 proceedings in the Allahabad High Court.
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