Mukhtar Ansari: Navigating Between Crime and Politics in Uttar Pradesh

In a significant development from Lucknow, Mukhtar Ansari, a notable figure who navigated the intricate nexus of crime and politics in Uttar Pradesh, passed away due to cardiac arrest in a Banda hospital on Thursday. Ansari, aged 63, had a long history of criminal activities with 65 cases registered against him, including charges of murder and extortion. Despite his notorious background, he managed to secure a position as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) five times, representing various political parties throughout his career.

Born in 1963 into a prominent family, Ansari's foray into the criminal world began at the tender age of 15 with his first case of criminal intimidation recorded at Saidpur Police Station in Ghazipur in 1978. His criminal activities escalated over the years, marking his presence in the government contract mafia. By 1986, Ansari was already a recognized figure within this circle following a murder charge at Muhammad Police Station in Ghazipur.

Despite his growing criminal record, Ansari's political journey commenced in 1996 when he was elected as an MLA from Mau on a Bahujan Samaj Party ticket. His political career continued to flourish with subsequent victories in 2002 and 2007 as an independent candidate, and later under the banner of Qaumi Ekta Dal (QED) which he launched in 2012. In 2017, he won from Mau once again and in 2022 vacated his seat for his son Abbas Ansari, who secured victory on a Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party ticket.

Since 2005 until his demise, Ansari had been detained in various jails across Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. Post-2005, he faced 28 criminal charges including murder and seven cases under the UP Gangster Act. His legal battles culminated in eight convictions since September 2022, with ongoing trials in 21 cases.

Recent court proceedings saw Ansari receiving multiple sentences. In early March, he was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Rs 2.02 lakh by a Varanasi MP/MLA court for fraudulently obtaining an arms licence approximately 37 years ago. This marked his eighth conviction in the past 18 months and his second life term sentence. Other notable sentences included a five-year and six-month imprisonment for issuing death threats and a ten-year rigorous imprisonment along with a Rs 5 lakh penalty in a Gangster Act case lodged against him in 2010.

The Supreme Court played a pivotal role in Ansari's legal saga when it ordered the Punjab government to transfer custody back to Uttar Pradesh in March 2021. This decision came after Ansari spent more than two years in Ropar jail due to an extortion case. The court emphasized that neither convicts nor under-trial prisoners could oppose their transfer between prisons on trivial grounds.

In response to Ansari's criminal activities, the Uttar Pradesh police intensified their crackdown on his gang since 2020. This operation led to the seizure or demolition of illegal properties valued at Rs 608 crore and halted illegal business ventures worth over Rs 215 crore associated with the gang.

Mukhtar Ansari's life story encapsulates the complex interplay between crime and politics within Uttar Pradesh, highlighting the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in curbing criminal activities intertwined with political influence.