Mukhtar Ansari, a former gangster who transitioned into politics, has been acquitted in a 13-year-old attempt-to-murder case. The case was lodged at the Mohammadabad police station in Ghazipur and involved an alleged murder attempt on Mohammadabad resident Meer Hasan. In November 2009, two individuals reportedly shot at Meer Hasan and later threatened him to meet Ansari in jail.
The recent acquittal brings some relief to Ansari, who has been imprisoned at UP’s Banda jail since 2015. However, this comes amidst several other convictions against him since September 2022. In one case, he was convicted by the Allahabad High Court for assaulting a jailor in 2003, but the Supreme Court overturned the verdict in January. The apex court found the earlier acquittal of Ansari by a trial court to be legally valid.
Furthermore, Ansari was convicted in a 1999 case under the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, commonly known as the Gangster Act. He also faced convictions in a Gangster Act case dating back to 1996, along with his associate Bheem Singh. Additionally, he was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment by an MP/MLA court in Ghazipur for a Gangster Act case lodged against him in 2007. This particular case was related to the riots that followed the 2005 murder of MLA Krishnanand Rai and the abduction and murder of coal trader Nand Kishore Rungta.
Regarding the Meer Hasan case, government counsel Neeraj Srivastava explained that the chargesheet against Ansari was filed under IPC 120-b (criminal conspiracy). However, the main accused, Sonu Yadav, who allegedly opened fire on Hasan, was acquitted in 2010. The court, considering the acquittal of the main accused, acquitted Ansari on the same grounds, giving him the benefit of the doubt.
Despite this acquittal, Ansari will not be released from jail yet. Another judgment is expected in a Gangster Act case against him on May 20, which involves the 2009 Kapil Dev Singh murder case and the Meer Hasan case. Ansari’s defense lawyer, Liyakat Ali, stated that they have pleaded for his release, asserting that a case is not substantiated against their client.
As the legal proceedings continue, Mukhtar Ansari’s involvement in criminal activities and his subsequent political career continue to be subjects of public interest and scrutiny.