Senior Samajwadi Party leader and former minister Mohammad Azam Khan was released from Sitapur district jail on Friday, a day after the Supreme Court granted him interim bail in a case of cheating.
The apex court granted the bail by exercising its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution.
Shivpal Singh Yadav, the estranged uncle of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and Khan's two sons were present at the Sitapur prison gate to welcome Azam Khan.
Welcoming Azam Khan's release from the jail, Akhilesh Yadav later tweeted, "Hearty welcome to Shri Azam Khan ji on his release on bail. With this decision of bail, the Supreme Court has given new standards to justice. I am sure that he will be acquitted in all other false cases. Lies have moments, not centuries.”
Azam Khan was accused in 88 cases registered against him and he has been in jail since February, 2020. Earlier, the court had granted him bail in 87 cases while the 88th case pertained to land-grabbing and forgery at Rampur Public School. Azam Khan was accused of forging building certificates to get recognition for the school.