UP government to augment security for Mukhtar Ansari in Banda Jail, assures SC [Read Order]

NEW DELHI: The Uttar Pradesh government on Friday told the Supreme Court it would augment security of gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari lodged inside the Banda jail, if required.

Appearing for the UP government, Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj sought time from a bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and Sanjay Karol to seek instructions to a plea filed by Ansari's son Umar Ansari to shift him to a jail outside the state.

Nataraj also submitted that Ansari was sent to Banda jail on the orders of the Supreme Court.

During the hearing, the bench asked senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Umar Ansari, that the High Court had already ordered security for him.

Sibal said on June 8, 2023 one of the co-accused has been shot dead in a Lucknow court.

Nataraj, on his part, questioned the jurisdiction of the court under Article 32 of the Constitution.

The court, however, said it was a question of liberty in terms of life and death.

The bench asked Nataraj to inform about the status of trial against Ansari, five-time MLA and ensure his security.

Ansari's son prayed for a direction for his father to be shifted outside the state and be produced before courts only through virtual conferencing in pending cases, in view of information received by the jailed gangster of the plan afoot by several actors within the state to eliminate him.

He cited "disturbing pattern of extra judicial killings" of several accused persons including former MP and gangster Atiq Ahmad and his brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf in support of his plea.

[Read Order]