Don-turned-MLA Mukhtar Ansari granted bail in riots case

Allahabad, Aug 17 (UNI) Allahabad High Court today granted bail to mafia don-turned-Uttar Pradesh MLA Mukhtar Ansari in the Mau communal riots case.

Justice Ravindra Singh granted bail to the Mau MLA, since the prime accused, who had fired on people, had already been granted bail by the HC.

Mukhtar was made co-accused and his role in the FIR was that of provocation.

He was lodged in Ghazipur district jail since October 25, 2005 in connection with the riots case.

Earlier, Mau sessions judge had already rejected his bail plea.

An FIR was lodged against Mukhtar and several others at Kotwali police station, Mau by Jitendra Yadav in connection with the riot under sections 147, 148, 149, 427, 435, 436, 303 and 307 of Indian Penal Code. Jitendra's brother R P Yadav was killed in the riot.

The FIR narrated that the MLA along with several others shouted and provoked the mob to kill people of a particular community on October 4, 2005 and thereafter the rioteers opened fire.

Mukhtar is also one of the prime accused in the Uttar Pradesh BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai murder case.

The don-turned-MLA will remain behind bars unless he is granted bail in the murder case too.

Rai, an MLA from Mohammadabad assembly constituency in Ghazipur, and his seven supporters were shot dead in broad daylight in Ghazipur on November 29, 2005.

They were ambushed near the Ballia-Ghazipur border by several motorcycle-borne miscreants armed with sophisticated weapons.

On a writ petition by the slain MLA's widow, Allahabad HC on May 23 had directed the UP government to hand over the probe to CBI.

Ruling Samajwadi Party MP Afzal Ansari, his younger brother Mukhtar and brother-in-law Ejaz are prime accused in the case.

UNI XC/VS PR RN1913