The Supreme Court of India granted bail to Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan and his son Abdullah Azam Khan in a 2022 machine theft case on February 10, 2025. The ruling overturned an earlier Allahabad High Court order that denied them relief, citing the duration of their incarceration and the filing of the chargesheet.
A bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh and Rajesh Bindal emphasized the time already spent by the accused in jail and the completion of the investigation. The court stated:
“Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, we are inclined to set aside the impugned order and grant bail to the appellants.”
The bench imposed strict conditions, requiring the father-son duo to cooperate with trial proceedings, avoid influencing witnesses, and adhere to all court mandates. The trial court was instructed to proceed independently, regardless of the conduct of the accused.
Background
The case dates back to 2014 when a road-cleaning machine owned by Rampur’s Nagar Palika Parishad was allegedly stolen. The machine was later discovered at Jauhar University, an institution linked to Azam Khan. An FIR was filed in 2022 by Wakar Ali Khan, accusing Azam Khan, his son, and five others of theft.
The delay in filing the FIR raised questions, but authorities proceeded with charges under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code
