Legal troubles have mounted for Azad Samaj Party national president and Nagina Lok Sabha MP Chandrashekhar Azad after a special MP-MLA court in Ghaziabad took a stern view of his repeated absences. Following a scheduled hearing on Thursday, the court issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against the parliamentarian. The judicial order was prompted by his failure to respond to multiple court summonses, with the court warning that continued non-appearance could lead to the attachment of his property.
The 2018 Wedding Altercation in Sahibabad
The criminal proceedings trace back to an incident in 2018 within the jurisdiction of the Sahibabad police station. According to the complaint, an altercation broke out between Chandrashekhar Azad, along with his companions, and a youth named Dharmendra Kumar during a wedding ceremony approximately eight years ago. In his official statement to the police, the victim alleged that he was assaulted, slapped during the function, and subjected to verbal intimidation and threats.
Acting on the formal complaint filed by Dharmendra Kumar, local police registered a First Information Report (FIR) under Sections 323 and 305 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Counsel representing the complainant confirmed that law enforcement authorities have long concluded the formal investigation into the episode. Following the probe, an official chargesheet was submitted to the judiciary, moving the matter into the active trial stage before the court.
Judicial Action Following Repeated Absences
To advance the legal proceedings, the MP-MLA court had issued multiple summonses directing Chandrashekhar Azad to present himself before the bench. Despite repeated official notices, the Nagina MP consistently skipped the hearings. When he remained absent during Thursday's proceedings as well, the presiding judge viewed the continued non-compliance as a serious matter, prompting the immediate issuance of the non-bailable arrest warrant alongside directions regarding potential property attachment proceedings.
Political Implications Ahead of Upcoming Elections
The escalation in judicial proceedings comes at a crucial political juncture in Uttar Pradesh, where preparations and groundwork for the 2027 state assembly elections are actively gathering momentum. As head of the Azad Samaj Party, Chandrashekhar Azad has been travelling extensively to address rallies and conduct public outreach drives aimed at expanding his party's organizational footprint. Facing a non-bailable warrant and potential asset attachment could present a notable hurdle, threatening to disrupt the pace of his active political touring.
