UP Court Enhances Sentence of Azam Khan to 10 Years in Dual PAN Card Case, Boosts Fine on Son Abdullah

Rampur (Uttar Pradesh), May 2026 : In a significant setback for jailed Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and former MP Azam Khan, a Special MP-MLA Court in Rampur on Saturday enhanced his prison sentence from seven years to 10 years in the high-profile dual PAN card case involving his son Abdullah Azam Khan. The court also increased the financial penalty imposed on Abdullah from ₹50,000 to ₹3.5 lakh, while raising Azam Khan’s fine to ₹5 lakh from the earlier ₹50,000.

The ruling came after the court allowed a prosecution appeal seeking enhancement of punishment for both father and son, who were earlier convicted and sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment on November 17, 2025.

According to legal counsel involved in the case, the judgment relates to allegations that Abdullah Azam Khan had obtained two different PAN cards with varying dates of birth, allegedly to manipulate his eligibility to contest elections. The court found that the discrepancy in official documents was not accidental but part of a deliberate attempt to misrepresent age.

Azam Khan, a senior SP leader and multiple-time legislator, was found to have played a role in what the prosecution described as a broader conspiracy to facilitate his son’s electoral eligibility. The prosecution argued that Abdullah was below the minimum age required to contest elections at the relevant time, prompting the alleged fabrication of documents to increase his recorded age.

The case originated from a complaint filed at the Civil Lines police station in Rampur on December 6, 2019, by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Akash Kumar Saxena. The complaint alleged fraud, forgery, and criminal conspiracy in the creation and use of two PAN cards.

Investigators claimed that one PAN card listed Abdullah Azam Khan’s date of birth as January 1, 1993, while the other recorded it as September 30, 1990. The contradiction, according to the prosecution, was central to establishing intent to manipulate legal records for electoral advantage.

During the trial, the prosecution successfully argued that forged documents were used not only for electoral purposes but also for income tax filings, thereby reinforcing the seriousness of the offence. The court accepted the argument that the misuse of identity documents constituted a coordinated attempt involving both father and son.

Following the verdict, complainant Akash Kumar Saxena welcomed the court’s decision, calling it a “historic judgment.” He stated that it was a rare instance in which a court had accepted a plea to enhance a previously awarded sentence after conviction.

“This is a historic verdict enhancing the sentence on appeal. It is rare for a court to accept a request to increase punishment after conviction,” Saxena said.

The enhanced sentencing marks another major legal blow for Azam Khan, who has faced multiple cases and convictions in recent years. At the time of the original November 2025 judgment, he had only recently stepped out of jail in another matter, further adding to his legal troubles.

Legal observers note that the case has drawn significant political attention due to Azam Khan’s long-standing influence in Uttar Pradesh politics and his repeated involvement in court cases related to land disputes, forgery allegations, and administrative irregularities.

The prosecution maintained throughout the proceedings that Abdullah Azam Khan was ineligible to contest elections at the time of the alleged offence due to his age. It argued that the creation of a second PAN card was a calculated move to overcome this legal barrier.

The court’s decision to increase the sentence is being seen as a strong judicial stance against document forgery and electoral malpractice. With the revised punishment, both Azam Khan and his son now face significantly longer incarceration periods along with higher financial penalties.

Further legal options, including appeals in higher courts, remain open to the convicted duo.