Travesty of justice: Supreme Court on delay in bail to Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan

The Supreme Court on Friday expressed displeasure over the delay in hearing the bail application of Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan in a land grabbing case, saying this is a travesty of justice .

A bench comprising Justices L Nageswara Rao and B R Gavai noted that Khan has got bail in 86 out of 87 cases, and said it would hear the matter on May 11.

He (Khan) has been out on bail in all matters except one for so long, this is travesty of justice. We will not say anything more. We will hear it on Wednesday, the bench said.

The Supreme Court on Friday expressed displeasure over the delay in hearing the bail application of Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan in a land grabbing case, saying this is a travesty of justice .

A bench comprising Justices L Nageswara Rao and B R Gavai noted that Khan has got bail in 86 out of 87 cases, and said it would hear the matter on May 11.

He (Khan) has been out on bail in all matters except one for so long, this is travesty of justice. We will not say anything more. We will hear it on Wednesday, the bench said.

It was alleged in the FIR that during partition one Imamuddin Qureshi went to Pakistan and his land was recorded as enemy property, but Khan in collusion with others grabbed the 13.842-hectare plot.

Earlier, the apex court in February had refused interim bail to Khan for campaigning in the Uttar Pradesh elections and asked him to approach the court concerned for expeditious disposal.

The plea filed by Khan had contended that the State has adopted all means available to purposefully delay the proceedings so as to ensure that he is incarcerated during the recently held Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

Khan is presently lodged in Sitapur jail in connection with a number of cases, including that of land grabbing, lodged against him in Rampur.