PRAYAGRAJ, Nov. 22 -- Justice Sameer Jain of the Allahabad high court on Friday recused himself from hearing a criminal case pending against Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan in the matter of Rampur Yatimkhana eviction in 2016. Releasing the case, the judge said that the earlier order regarding stay on pronouncing judgement by trial court will be in operation till the next date. Senior advocate SFA Naqvi, who is one of the counsel in this case, informed that the judge recused himself and released the matter. As per the roster of the court, Justice Sameer Jain is authorised to hear criminal matters against MP-MLAs. Earlier, the high court, in its order dated June 11, had observed that the trial in the case will proceed but no final order shall be passed. In the matter, about 12 separate FIRs were lodged in which ex-MP Mohammad Azam Khan and several others were accused. The case, originating from these FIRs registered between 2019 and 2020 at Kotwali police station in Rampur, pertains to an alleged incident on October 15, 2016, involving the demolition of unauthorised structures on Waqf property known as Yateemkhana. These FIRs, initially tried as separate cases, were consolidated into a single trial (special case no. 45 of 2020) by the Special Judge (MP/MLA) in Rampur on August 8, 2024. The accused, including prominent figures, face charges of dacoity, house trespass, and criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code (IPC)....