2016 Forced Eviction Case | Allahabad HC Extends Stay On Passing Of Final Order In Trial Against Azam Khan Till July 15
The Allahabad High Court today extended the stay (until July 15) on the passing of a final order in the consolidated trial of the 2016 Forcible Eviction Case involving former UP Minister and MP Mohammad Azam Khan and others.
The order was passed by a bench of Justice Sameer Jain after AAG Manish Goyal sought time to seek instructions and file some compilations in the matter.
Earlier, a stay was granted on the passing of a final verdict, till July 3, on a plea filed by Khan's co-accused in the matter, who claimed that the trial court was 'adamant' to conclude the trial in June itself.
Senior Advocate SFA Naqvi, along with Advocate Zaheer Asghar, appeared for Mohammad Islam & Ors. (Co-accused persons). Senior Advocate NI Jafri, along with Advocates Shashwat Anand and Shashank Tiwari, appeared for ex-MP Azam Khan and his aide Virendra Goel.
In a significant development on June 25, a separate bench of Justice Samit Gopal had directed that a fresh petition filed by Khan and his aide Virendra Goel, concerning the same matter, be tagged with the earlier petition filed by the co-accused (in which the stay on the final order had already been granted).
The petitioners argue that this footage, acknowledged by Farooqui, could prove their absence from the scene, dismantling the prosecution's claims in the consolidated trial (Special Case No. 45 of 2020).
Their plea also seeks quashing of the entire trial, claiming the same to be violating their constitutional rights under Articles 14, 19, 20, and 21, and branding the proceedings as malicious.