Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party MLA and son of Mukhtar Ansari, Abbas Ansari, on Wednesday reached Ghazipur to condole his father's death at his graveyard in Kalibagh, news agency PTI reported, citing official sources. Abbas Ansari, who is lodged in Kasganj jail, was brought to Ghazipur in a prison vehicle after a court order, they said.
This comes after the Supreme Court on Tuesday permitted Abbas Ansari to attend the 'Fatiha' ritual of his father, who died recently. Abbas Ansari is currently lodged in Kasganj district jail in Uttar Pradesh under judicial custody in connection with some criminal cases.
According to PTI, his plea seeking permission to attend his father's 'Fatiha' ritual came up for hearing before a bench of Justices Surya Kant and K V Viswanathan. The bench said it saw no reason to deny him permission to attend the event.
Following apprehensions voiced by the Uttar Pradesh government on maintenance of law and order, the apex court directed that Abbas Ansari shall be taken from Kasganj jail to his native place Ghazipur in police custody with adequate security.
"The Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh, to do the needful in this regard," the bench said, as quoted by PTI. It further stated that keeping in view the distance, the police in coordination with the jail authorities, shall ensure that Abbas Ansari starts his journey today at the earliest and not later than 5 p.m.
It said he shall be allowed to attend the Fatiha on Wednesday in police custody, and after it is over, temporarily shifted to the local jail in Ghazipur. The bench said the district administration of Ghazipur shall verify if other rituals are to take place on April 11, and if so, Abbas Ansari be allowed to participate in police custody.
It said he be allowed to meet his family members on April 11 and 12. The top court said he shall be brought back to Kasganj jail on April 13.
The jailed Mau MLA could not attend his father's cremation as he did not get permission from the court. On Wednesday, after being taken to the graveyard, Abbas Ansari read 'Fatiha' on the grave of his father, PTI reported, citing sources. Gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari died on March 28 night at Rani Durgawati Medical College after being taken there from Banda jail when his condition deteriorated. He was laid to rest in Ghazipur on March 30 amid a security blanket.
The 63-year-old had been behind bars in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab since 2005 and had over 60 criminal cases against him. His family members have alleged that he was given poison inside the jail which led to his death.