SC Grants Interim Bail To Mukhtar Ansari's Son Abbas In Gangsters Act Case, But With These Conditions

The Supreme Court granted interim bail to UP MLA Abbas Ansari in a Gangsters Act case, imposing strict conditions.

File Photo of Uttar Pradesh MLA Abbas Ansari

Source : PTI

The Supreme Court on Friday granted interim bail to Uttar Pradesh MLA Abbas Ansari in a case registered under the state's Gangsters Act, imposing strict conditions on his release.  A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh directed Ansari, the son of late gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, to stay in his official accommodation in Lucknow.

He has been instructed to inform the district judge and Lucknow police before leaving the city and is barred from leaving Uttar Pradesh without the court's permission. Additionally, he is prohibited from making any statements regarding the pending cases against him.  

The top court also sought a status report from the police within six weeks, detailing both the progress of the case and Ansari’s conduct while on interim bail.  

During the hearing, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Ansari, argued that his client had been arrested in November 2022 and, despite securing bail in 10 cases, was taken into custody under the Gangsters Act on 6 September 2024. Sibal pointed out that Ansari had been incarcerated for five months despite being granted bail in all other cases. He further argued that Ansari was being held in Kasganj jail, far from his constituency.  

Uttar Pradesh Govt Opposed Interim Bail To Abbas Ansari

Representing the Uttar Pradesh government, Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj opposed the bail, citing the seriousness of the charges. He noted that key witnesses were yet to testify and expressed concerns that Ansari’s criminal background posed a risk of witness intimidation. However, the bench observed that the petitioner could not be kept in jail indefinitely.  

During the arguments, Sibal described Ansari as a national-level sportsperson, highlighting his achievements as a shooter. In response, the judges, in a light-hearted exchange, cautioned Sibal that such a statement could be misinterpreted.  

The case against Ansari and others, including Navneet Sachan, Niyaz Ansari, Faraz Khan, and Shahbaz Alam Khan, was registered at Kotwali Karvi Police Station in Chitrakoot district on 31 August 2024 under Sections 2 and 3 of the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986. The accused were charged with extortion and assault.  

Ansari, an MLA from the Mau constituency, is a member of the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party.  

(With PTI Inputs)