Samajwadi Party leader and former party treasurer Kaish Khan was arrested in Kannauj on Wednesday after police discovered him hiding in his brother’s house, behind a mattress in the loft. The dramatic arrest came after the Kannauj District Magistrate, Ashutosh Mohan Agnihotri, had barred him from entering the district for six months through an order issued on July 28. The directive specifically required him to leave the district immediately, yet Khan defied the ban and quietly returned to his neighbourhood in Balapeer.
Police said they had been tipped off about his presence and carried out searches at both his residence and his brother’s home. Initially, Khan managed to evade detection, but a thorough inspection led officers to find him concealed in the loft, attempting to avoid capture. Superintendent of Police Vinod Kumar confirmed that he was taken into custody after being found hiding and added that he even tried to shift positions during the search to escape the police’s notice.
Authorities highlighted that Khan faces several criminal cases. Following his arrest, officials announced that a case under Sections 3 and 10 of the Goonda Act would also be lodged against him. This move underscores the administration’s stance against repeated offenders and high-profile political figures accused of unlawful activities.
This is not the first time Khan has faced punitive action. Earlier this year, on January 6, his marriage hall was demolished in a bulldozer action after he was accused of encroaching upon a municipal road by constructing a lintel over it. His political ties have also kept him in the spotlight. On July 25, just days before the district ban was imposed, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had visited Kannauj and met Khan, which many saw as a show of support.
The arrest adds to the growing list of controversies surrounding Khan and highlights the tension between local administration and political figures in Uttar Pradesh, particularly those associated with the Samajwadi Party. For now, his custody marks a firm enforcement of the district’s order, but it also signals deeper political and legal battles ahead.
