Mukhtar Ansari Death News: Family Alleges Poisoning In Jail; BSP Supremo Mayawati Demands Inquiry

Mukhtar Ansari, Uttar Pradesh's famous gangster-turned-politician, died of a cardiac arrest on Thursday, according to reports. Ansari was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Banda's Rani Durgavati Medical College following uneasiness and unconsciousness on Tuesday, and now, after two days, he died. However, the family of Mukhtar Ansari has alleged that the jail administration poisoned him in prison, which led to his death.

Talking to news agency PTI, Mukhtar Ansari's brother Afzal Ansari said, "Mukhtar told us that he was given a poisonous substance in his food in jail. This happened for the second time. He was given poison around 40 days ago as well. And, recently, on March 19, he was again given this (poison) due to which his condition was bad".

Mukhtar Ansari's son Umar alleged that his father did not die a natural death, in fact, he was given some poison in the food, and it should be investigated. Umar added that he would approach the court to seek justice.

"We said this before also and even today we will say the same thing. On March 19, he was poisoned in the dinner. We will move to the judiciary, we have full faith in it...," Umar Ansari told the media.

Reacting to the death news of Mukhtar Ansari, BSP Supremo Mayawati also demanded a high-level inquiry into the case and expressed solidarity with the family of the deceased.

The Jail authorities said that Ansari's health deteriorated due to fasting during Ramadan. He fell unconscious on Tuesday he was going to the washroom, after which, he was immediately transported to the nearby hospital amid tight security.

Mukhtar Ansari, a five-time former MLA from Mau, had 61 criminal cases against him, of which 15 were on murder charges.