New Delhi: A Uttar Pradesh court on Saturday convicted and sentenced two-year imprisonment to senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan in a hate speech case.

An MP-MLA court convicted him for a statement he made against UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election. The remark was made at a public rally in Rampur’s Dhanora.    

According to information, a case was registered against the Muslim leaders at Shahzad Nagar police station in Rampur. 

Earlier on July 14, the Uttar Pradesh government has withdrawn the Y-category security cover given to senior Samajwadi party leader Azam Khan. The government said that it was not needed now. 

According to information, Rampur police had received a letter from security headquarters in Lucknow to withdraw the Y-category security provided to Azam Khan, a former Minister and 10-time MLA from Rampur seat. 

The security headquarters in a letter to Rampur Superintendent of Police said that the security cover was not needed.  

As per officials, Azam Khan was given three gunmen and police personnel under the Y-category security. Following the order, the district Police have withdrawn the security and called back all security personnel to Police Lines. 

Azam Khan is a senior Samajwadi Party leader. Earlier, he was disqualified from the UP Assembly after a court sentenced him to three years in jail in a hate speech case.    

Also Read: UP govt withdraws Y-category security given to SP leader Azam Khan