Samajwadi Party leader Mohammad Azam Khan has approached the Supreme Court challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and his judicial custody. During the hearing, senior advocate Kapil Sibal argued that multiple cases were being filed against the 80-year-old leader to keep him behind bars. He told the court that Azam Khan was seeking bail and was not challenging the trial itself.


88 FIRs and 28 ECIRs

Representing Azam Khan, Kapil Sibal raised concerns over the number of cases registered against him. He said that 87 FIRs had already been filed and that an 88th case was registered after he secured bail in the earlier cases. Sibal also alleged that the ED had registered 28 ECIRs, describing the action as harassment. He argued that new cases were being added to prevent Azam Khan from coming out of jail.


Old Cases and Long Detention

Sibal referred to an incident dating back to 2006, saying that 26 FIRs were registered in 2019 in connection with it. Although Azam Khan secured bail in most of those cases, he remained in jail from 2022 to 2025. Sibal questioned why cases related to an alleged incident from 2006 were registered so many years later. He also argued that Azam Khan was not in power at the time of the incident.


Fresh ED Arrest Challenged

Azam Khan has challenged his arrest by the ED in a case related to two PAN cards after his release from Rampur jail. He has also challenged the November 1 judicial custody order in a money laundering case linked to Mohammad Ali Jauhar University. Sibal told the court that even after getting bail in the PAN card case, Azam Khan had to remain in jail for years. He argued that the repeated arrests and fresh cases were keeping him in custody.


Supreme Court Raises Questions

During the hearing, Chief Justice of India said that the Allahabad High Court had granted relief in several matters and that Azam Khan could seek relief there as well. Justice J. Bagchi referred to two new FIRs, including one involving alleged extortion linked to land for the university. He also mentioned allegations of misuse of university funds and financial irregularities. The state government argued that the complaints were not registered earlier because Azam Khan held an influential position.


Case May Go to High Court

The Supreme Court indicated that the matter would be sent to the High Court, with a request to hear it within one week. The Chief Justice also said that the case could be placed before the High Court's vacation bench, if required. During the hearing, Sibal stressed that Azam Khan was 80 years old and needed bail. He told the court that the plea was limited to his release from custody and did not seek to challenge the ongoing trial.