Senior Samajwadi Party leader and former Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan was detained by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) minutes after being released from Rampur jail on Saturday, October 31. The development came as the veteran politician was preparing to walk out of prison after securing bail from the Allahabad High Court in the dual PAN card case.
According to reports, an ED team reached Rampur jail ahead of his release and took him along for questioning in connection with a money-laundering investigation. The case is linked to alleged financial irregularities involving Mohammad Ali Jauhar University and the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust.
The development came as a surprise to Azam Khan's supporters, who had gathered outside the jail to welcome him following his release. Heavy police deployment was also made in the area to maintain law and order.
Why waseleased from Rampur jail?
Azam Khan and his son Abdullah Azam were granted bail by the Allahabad High Court in the dual PAN card case on October 29. The court suspended their sentences but refused to stay their convictions.
The case relates to allegations that Abdullah Azam possessed two PAN cards with different dates of birth. The complaint was filed by BJP leader Akash Saxena in 2019.
In November 2025, a Rampur court sentenced both Azam Khan and Abdullah Azam to seven years in prison in the case. Subsequently, the MP-MLA Sessions Court increased Azam Khan's sentence to 10 years while retaining Abdullah's seven-year sentence.
Following the High Court's bail order, both completed the required legal formalities, including depositing the prescribed amounts and furnishing sureties, paving the way for their release.
However, their release did not bring an end to Azam Khan's legal troubles, as the ED moved to question him in a separate money-laundering investigation.
What is the ED's PMLA case against Azam Khan?
The Enforcement Directorate is investigating alleged financial irregularities involving Mohammad Ali Jauhar University and the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust, which is associated with Azam Khan.
The agency is examining the source of donations worth crores of rupees received by the trust and the university, the transfer of funds between associated entities and their utilisation in construction activities.
Earlier, on October 13, an ED team questioned Azam Khan inside Rampur jail for more than eight hours as part of the investigation.
The agency has also questioned several people associated with the trust and university, including its vice-chancellor, chartered accountant, contractors and political representatives.
In August, the ED conducted searches at 10 locations across Rampur, Saharanpur and Delhi in connection with the investigation. The searches focused on financial transactions, donations and construction expenditure linked to the university and the trust.
The investigation is ongoing, and the allegations have not been established as findings of guilt by a court.
Who is Azam Khan?
Azam Khan is a senior Samajwadi Party leader and former Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister. He has been one of the prominent political figures in Rampur and played an important role in the party's politics in the state.
He founded Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, which has been at the centre of several legal and financial investigations.
His son, Abdullah Azam, is also a former legislator. Both father and son have faced multiple legal cases over the years.
Despite securing bail in the dual PAN card case, Azam Khan's latest ED-related proceedings have added another development to his ongoing legal battles.
