Land grab cases: ED registers money laundering case against Azam, SP protests in Rampur

An agency official said the ED has taken cognisance of at least 26 UP Police FIRs against Khan in which he is alleged to have grabbed land in different villages by threatening and extortion.

Notably, Khan’s name was added to the state government’s anti-land mafia website after its launch in June 2017. The website was launched to identify and initiate action against known land-grabbers in the state.

Khan had earlier denied allegations and said that he was being targeted as part of political vendetta and because he had defeated the BJP in Rampur.

Earlier, the complainants in the case had even met the Governor requesting him to initiate action. The state had then formed a special investigation team to probe allegations of land grabbing against Khan and others.

According to the FIRs, Khan allegedly grabbed the concerned pieces of land in connivance with a former circle officer. Part of the land was acquired to build a university where Khan is the chancellor, sources said.

Meanwhile, Khan’s MLA son Abdullah was detained on Thursday for “trying to lead a protest” in Rampur against the action being taken against the senior party leader. He was released later, however, the party staged a protest in Rampur.

The party leaders and workers coming from adjoining districts to join the protest were also stopped from entering Rampur.

The Samajwadi Party, in a statement issued on Thursday, said that stopping the peaceful protesters is a “murder of democracy”. “Rampur was converted into cantonment. Former MP Dharmendra Yadav, Moradabad MP S T Hasan and other leaders and workers of the party were stopped from entering the city to protest against the fake cases against Azam Khan and his son Abdullah,” alleged spokesperson Rajendra Choudhary.

District Magistrate Aunjaneya Kumar Singh said CrPC Section 144 (prohibition of assembly of more than four people) was imposed in the city. “Abdullah was warned against holding protest. Around 200 people had gathered at the SP office and Abdullah was detained when he tried to lead the protest. We detained him to prevent a law and order situation. He was later released,” said the DM.