SC asks SP leader Azam Khan to appear in Allahabad HC today

Controversial Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan on Tuesday faced severe haranguing from the Supreme Court, which directed him to appear on Wednesday before the Allahabad High Court to honour a bailable warrant against him due to his non-appearance in a case.

The apex court, which rebuked the Samajwadi Party's minority face for "hoodwinking" the high court.

"Where is the chairman (Khan) of UP Jal Nigam? Is he in Allahabad or Lucknow," asked an angry bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar. Khan's counsel, with some hesitation to inform about his whereabouts, said "he will appear whenever he is asked". At this, the bench asked "doesn't he have a helicopter?"

Again, there was some hesitation on the part of the advocates' appearing for Khan to respond to the query and no clear answer emerged. The top court said "the (high) court feels you (Khan) are hoodwinking it. It is asking you to appear but you are not appearing. You are such a person that no bailable warrant can be served upon you. He is only an ex-officio chairman (of the UP Jal Nigam)."