The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to transfer the criminal cases pending in a Rampur Special Court against Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan outside the state, stating that it needed more cogent reasons for the same.
The Bench of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice S.A. Nazeer and Justice P.S. Narasimha, while dismissing his appeal, gave liberty to the Samajwadi Party leader to approach the Allahabad High Court for relief.
Representing Khan, Senior Advocate Kalip Sibal alleged that Khan was being persecuted and that it was not possible to get a fair trial in Uttar Pradesh.
He further said that it was not about a court or a Judge, but about the situation, which would remain the same anywhere in the state.
Khan had sought transfer of all ongoing criminal cases against him, which were going on in a special trial court in Rampur, outside the state.
The Samajwadi Party leader was recently convicted in a criminal case relating to hate speech and disqualified as a lawmaker in the State Assembly.