New Delhi, 02 November (H.S.): The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a petition filed by Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a fresh money laundering case. The matter is likely to be listed for hearing later this week.

Advocate Nizam Pasha, appearing for Khan, mentioned the petition before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Monday and sought an urgent hearing. The bench, however, declined to take up the matter immediately and indicated that it could be listed for hearing sometime during the week.

During the mentioning, the court initially advised Pasha to approach the High Court. It subsequently assured him that the matter would be listed before it later this week.

The ED arrested Azam Khan in a fresh money laundering case linked to the Jauhar Trust. His petition challenges the arrest.

During the hearing, Pasha informed the court that Khan had been taken into custody approximately 40 minutes after his release from jail in a dual PAN card case. Khan and his son, Abdullah Azam Khan, were granted bail by the Allahabad High Court on October 29 and were subsequently released from Rampur jail on October 31.

The petition also seeks the quashing of the trial court's order dated November 1, under which Khan was remanded to judicial custody. It further requests his immediate release from custody pending consideration of the plea.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar