New Delhi

The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed former Uttar Pradesh MLA Mohammad Abdullah Azam Khan’s plea seeking to quash proceedings in a case related to allegedly using fake documents to obtain a passport.

A bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and Satish Chandra Sharma upheld the Allahabad High Court’s July 23 order, which had refused to end the trial and directed the court in Rampur to continue proceedings as per law. Khan is the son of senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan.

Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, informed the Supreme Court that the trial had already concluded and the case was listed for final arguments. The bench observed there was no need for interference at this stage, saying, “Let the trial court decide it. Have faith in the trial court.”

The court clarified that the trial court could decide all issues independently, without being influenced by previous orders.

The case originated from a July 2019 FIR in Rampur alleging that Khan obtained his passport using forged documents. His date of birth was listed as January 1, 1993, in school records but as September 30, 1990, in his passport.

A chargesheet was filed against him under sections 420 (cheating) and 471 (using forged documents) of the Indian Penal Code, and section 12(1A) of the Passport Act.

Khan had earlier argued before the high court that the case violated the principle of “double jeopardy” since a similar case concerning his birth certificate was pending. The high court dismissed his plea, terming it “devoid of merits.”