The SP politician was accused of attempting to get votes on religious grounds while using derogatory language towards his Congress opponent.
Digital Desk: As reported by a government lawyer, a Rampur court sentenced Samajwadi Party politician Azam Khan to three years in prison on Thursday in a 2019 hate speech case.
However, the court granted bail to the Rampur MLA, giving him time to submit an appeal in a higher court.
According to attorney Ajay Tiwari, Khan was also fined Rs 25,000 by the MP/MLA court.
In April 2019, a charge was filed against Khan in Rampur for making serious claims against administrative personnel deployed in Rampur, as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, during an election meeting.
The Rampur Special MP/MLA court found Khan guilty of violating Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 153-A (inciting religious feelings), 505-A (making false statements intended to create feelings of enmity, hatred, or animosity between different communities), and Section 125 (promoting animosity between different classes in connection with elections). According to government attorney Ajay Tiwari, the court sentenced him to three years in prison and fined him Rs 25,000.
During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Khan was arrested for making inflammatory remarks while speaking at a public assembly in the Milak Kotwali hamlet of Khatanagaria.
The video of Khan's statement went viral as well.
As he exited the courtroom following the verdict, Khan stated that bail is a mandatory part of the law.
"I believe in justice," he told reporters.
Khan was released from prison earlier this year after the Supreme Court granted him temporary bail in connection with a cheating case.
He was imprisoned for nearly two years.
The Samajwadi Party chief is facing over 90 charges, including corruption and theft.
The SP leader won the Rampur Sadar assembly seat for the tenth time in the recent UP Assembly elections.
He resigned as Lok Sabha MP from Rampur, which he had won in the 2019 election, after becoming MLA.
In preparation for the court hearing, heavy security was deployed both outside and within the Rampur court.
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