SIT team probes graft charges against Azam

LUCKNOW: A team of Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating various charges against senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan returned to Lucknow on Sunday after completing a three-day initial probe in Azam’s bastion Rampur. The investigation has been ordered on the direction of chief minister Yogi Adityanath following a number of local complaints accusing Azam of encroaching upon Waqf board properties, misuse of public money, disproportionate asset and harassment of people from backward categories.

LUCKNOW: A team of Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating various charges against senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan returned to Lucknow on Sunday after completing a threeday initial probe in Azam’s bastion Rampur.

The investigation has been ordered on the direction of CM Yogi Adityanath following a number of local complaints accusing Azam of encroaching upon Waqf board properties, misuse of public money, disproportionate asset and harassment of people from backward categories. “We went to Rampur and spoke to local officials and complainants to record their statements. We have also collected documents pertaining to the complaints that are being examined,” said deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Ashok Kumar Yadav, who is heading the investigating team. The team also visited the Jauhar Ali University campus on Friday. Khan, who is sitting MLA from Rampur, is also the chairperson of the university. The team didn’t meet Khan.

“Our primary focus was to record statements of the complainants and collect evidence pertaining to their complaints. We will call other people related to the case as the investigation progresses,” said the officer.

Of the people who lodged complaints against the former minster are leaders of BJP, Congress and locals. Faisal Lala Khan, a member of Congress party, in his complaint has accused Khan of income tax fraud and corruption in major construction projects proposed in the district.