Bareilly: Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan has challenged the order at the Rampur district and sessions court, which convicted him in a hate speech case that led to his disqualification as a lawmaker, official sources said on Wednesday.
During a hearing of the case the same day in the Supreme Court, the apex court asked the lower court to decide on Thursday itself the appeal of Khan who has sought a stay on his conviction. The Supreme Court directed the Election Commission not to issue notification for the assembly by-polls for Rampur Sadar seat till November 10.
On October 27 the Rampur MP/MLA court sentenced Khan to three years’ imprisonment in connection with a hate speech case in 2019. After his conviction, Khan was disqualified from assembly under the Representation of the People Act. Therefore, the assembly secretariat declared the Rampur Sadar assembly seat which Khan represents vacant.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission announced the by-elections for the Rampur Sadar assembly and Mainpuri Lok Sabha seats. It will be held on December 5.
The Rampur district and sessions court that admitted Khan’s appeal granted him interim bail till November 16, Khan’s lawyer said.
