Senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan was taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) shortly after his release from Rampur jail on Saturday. An ED team, accompanied by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, reached the prison and took him away. Khan had been granted relief by the Allahabad High Court in a case related to two PAN cards, with his sentence suspended. The ED is preparing to produce him before a court at around 10 am on Sunday and seek his custody, according to the report.

Money Laundering Case Registered on October 14
The ED registered a case against Khan on October 14. The agency had also conducted searches and questioned him in August as part of its investigation. Although the High Court’s order had raised expectations of his release, the ED took him into custody soon after he came out of prison. The status of his son, Abdullah Azam’s, release remained unclear.

ED Attaches Properties Linked to Jauhar University
The ED has said it attached land and buildings belonging to Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The properties have an estimated market value of around ₹1,170 crore. According to the agency, government funds allocated for public purposes were allegedly diverted towards the construction of the private university. The ED has also accused Khan of allegedly misusing his influence while holding ministerial positions. The allegations are subject to judicial proceedings, and the court will determine the matter.

Azam Khan Questions Law and Order After Release
After coming out of jail, Khan raised questions about the state of law and order. He questioned whether being Muslim was the reason for the treatment he was facing and asked whether establishing schools and a university to educate children was a crime. His remarks brought the case back into the political spotlight.

Akhilesh Yadav Criticises Government
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav also criticised the government in a post on X, alleging that Khan was repeatedly being implicated in cases and sent to jail. Yadav said that power changes hands over time and warned that actions involving injustice could eventually have consequences for those responsible. He has previously met Khan in jail and described the cases against him as politically motivated.