Rampur: The Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan’s appeal challenging his conviction in a hate speech case, which led to his disqualification from the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, was rejected by a Rampur sessions court on Thursday.
The court, after hearing both sides, turned down Khan’s appeal, reports news agency PTI.
The verdict will pave the way for holding of bypoll in the Rampur Sadar seat which fell vacant following the disqualification of Khan.
The court heard Khan’s appeal on the direction of the Supreme Court which had also asked the Election Commission not to issue the bypoll notification for the Rampur Sadar assembly seat till November 10.
The top court, on November 9, said the bypoll notification can be issued on or after November 11, once the sessions court decides on Khan’s plea.
On October 27, Khan was sentenced to three years of imprisonment in the 2019 hate speech case. The SP leader had then moved to the Supreme Court against his disqualification.
The MLA was disqualified as a member of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly following his conviction and the Rampur Sadar Assembly seat was declared as vacant.
