Rampur, Dec 5 (UNI) Samajwadi Party leader Mohammad Azam Khan’s son, Abdullah Azam, has been sentenced to seven years in prison and a fine of Rs 50,000 by the special MP/MLA court on Friday after convicting him in the fake passport case.
Abdullah, who is in Rampur jail along with his father Azam Khan, appeared in court via video conferencing. The judgment was passed by special judge Shobhit Bansal of the MP-MLA court.
This is Abdullah’s third sentence for forging his date of birth. In this case, Abdullah was the only accused.
Eighteen days ago, father and son, Azam and Abdullah, were sentenced to seven years in prison each in the fake PAN card case. Both have been in Rampur jail since November 17.
Previously, Azam Khan, his wife Tanzeen, and Abdullah were sentenced to seven years each in the birth certificate case two years ago, in 2023. Azam Khan was released on bail on September 23 after 23 months in jail. Just 55 days later, he was sentenced again and sent back to jail.
The fake passport case dates back to 2019.
Rampur BJP leader Akash Saxena, now a BJP MLA, filed an FIR at the Civil Lines police station. In the FIR, he stated, “Abdullah Azam fraudulently obtained and used two separate passports using forged documents. One passport shows his date of birth as January 1, 1993, which is correct according to his education records. The other passport shows 1990, which is fake.”
Prosecution lawyer Swadesh Kumar Sharma stated that the court held Abdullah guilty under Crime Number 594/2019. Abdullah Azam has been sentenced and fined under sections 420, 467, 468, and 471 of the Indian Penal Code.
Under section 420, he received 3 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000; under section 467, 7 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 20,000; under section 468, 3 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000; and under section 471, 2 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000. Failure to pay the fine will result in an extension of the sentence.
Under section 467, Abdullah Azam has been given the maximum sentence of 7 years imprisonment and a total fine of Rs 50,000.
A list of approximately 36 witnesses was presented by the defence, of which 19 defense witnesses were examined. Based on the evidence, the maximum sentence has been given under Section 467. This section also provides for life imprisonment.
Prosecution officer Swadesh Kumar Sharma stated that after reviewing the copy of the judgment, if necessary, an appeal will be filed for a further increase in the sentence.
Abdullah Azam sentenced to seven years in fake passport case
