Azam Khan, a prominent Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and former Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister, was released from Sitapur jail on September 23, 2025, after spending approximately 23 months in custody. While his release was met with celebration from party workers and supporters, his legal battles are far from over.

Khan, a ten-time MLA from Rampur, faces a staggering number of legal cases. Out of a total of 111 cases filed against him, 81 are still pending trial. These cases include a wide array of charges, including corruption, land grabbing, cheating, forgery, and other irregularities. Many of these cases were filed after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in Uttar Pradesh in 2017, leading the SP to allege that they are politically motivated.

Adding to his legal woes, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax Department are actively investigating Khan's alleged involvement in corruption and irregularities related to the Maulana Ali Jauhar University. A complaint filed by a BJP MLA from Rampur, Akash Saxena, triggered an income tax probe, which subsequently led to an ED investigation into alleged money laundering at the Jauhar Trust, headed by Khan. Investigations revealed that Khan allegedly used ₹106.56 crore of government funds for university projects without proper authorization.

Despite the numerous legal challenges, Khan remains confident that he will be acquitted and emerge "clean" from the cases. He has repeatedly asserted that the charges against him are politically motivated.

Several key developments are expected in the pending cases against Khan. Judgments in a fraud case against him and his wife, Tazeen Fatima, and a case related to cheating are expected on October 8. Additionally, charges are likely to be framed against Khan's associates in a land grabbing case on the same day. The hearing in a case related to Khan's alleged controversial statement against the Indian Army has been postponed to October 8. Cross-examination in a case related to allegations of threatening a witness is scheduled for October 3.

Khan's legal troubles have had political ramifications. He was previously disqualified from the Uttar Pradesh assembly after being convicted in a hate speech case in 2022. However, he has also secured acquittals in some cases, though some of these have been challenged by the state government.

Khan's release has sparked renewed debate about his political future and its implications for Uttar Pradesh politics. He is a prominent Muslim leader in the SP and a significant figure in the state's Muslim politics. Despite speculation about him potentially joining the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Khan has firmly denied such rumors.