Supreme Court Reviews Mukhtar Ansari’s Jail Death: Son Umar Seeks Inquiry
New Delhi, India – The Supreme Court of India has issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government regarding a plea from Umar Ansari, son of the late gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari. Umar is seeking to amend a petition concerning the circumstances of his father’s death in jail.
A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti issued the notice. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Umar, argued that Mukhtar Ansari died in jail under suspicious circumstances and called for an inquiry. Sibal claimed that Mukhtar was poisoned in jail, a submission recorded by the court.
Previously, Umar Ansari had requested the Supreme Court to transfer his father from Banda Jail to another state, citing threats to his father’s life. The petition highlighted various incidents in Uttar Pradesh, including the killing of Atiq Ahmad, and alleged that the state government, led by a rival political party, was persecuting their family.
The petition detailed a conspiracy to assassinate Mukhtar Ansari in jail, involving hired killers and complicit jail officials. It mentioned a similar incident where Meraj Ahmad, a co-accused with Mukhtar, was killed in Chitrakoot District Jail in 2021.
In April 2023, Mukhtar Ansari was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison for the murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai.
