Senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan was detained by the Enforcement Directorate outside Rampur Jail on October 31, 2026, immediately after he was released on bail by the Allahabad High Court in an alleged PAN fraud case.
Advocate Nizam Pasha, making an oral mention before Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, argued the detention constituted what the Supreme Court had previously described as an 'evergreening of cases' by the State against Mr. Khan with a political motive. Pasha stated that 87 FIRs were already filed against Khan and this was the 88th case, adding that the purpose was to delay his eventual release.
The Chief Justice of India observed that since Khan's release had been based on a High Court order, he ought to approach the High Court for relief rather than move the apex court directly. "Have faith in the High Court, it has given him relief. We will relegate this matter to the High Court and request it to take it up without delay," the CJI said.
Advocate Pasha urged the court to list the petition. Chief Justice Kant responded: "We will list it this week."
The detention has been described by the advocate as being connected to the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. The Hindu reported on the Supreme Court development, while The Times of India noted the Azam Khan factor in relation to the 2027 polls.
