Supreme Court tells UP govt to prevent unforeseen incidents for jailed Mukhtar Ansari

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Uttar Pradesh government to continue with ongoing security arrangements for gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari, inside Banda jail, where he is currently lodged.

The court asked the state government to ensure that he is not visited by any unforeseen situation, while recording the security arrangements made for him appeared to be “formidable enough”.

A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and Prashant Kumar Mishra was hearing a plea filed by Umar Ansari, son of Mukhtar Ansari, raising concerns regarding his father’s safety within the jail premises and seeking a direction to transfer him to any other prison outside Uttar Pradesh.

Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj, for the Uttar Pradesh government, brought on record details regarding the number of cases pending against Mukhtar Ansari at different stages and the security arrangements made for him.

The apex court noted that Mukhtar Ansari was earlier permitted to attend the court hearings through virtual mode.

The bench directed Uttar Pradesh authorities to continue with the security measures to ensure that Ansari is not visited with any “unforeseen situation” and, after examining a chart regarding security arrangements for Ansari, observed they appeared to be “formidable enough”.

Sr. Adv. Kapil Sibal for the petitioner, asked the bench to adjourn the matter to July.

The court said the state’s counsel has brought to its notice certain measures and noted that even with all the measures, things may happen.

“For the moment, whatever is being done, let it continue,” the bench said.

The bench said, “We deem it appropriate to direct the authorities of Uttar Pradesh state to continue with all the security measures to ensure that detenu Mukhtar Ansari is not visited with any unforeseen situation”.

The bench fixed the matter for further hearing in the third week of July.

Umar’s plea contended that anti-social elements in the state have been emboldened enough to commit murders within full public view and moreover, on live television, in the presence of media and the police such as in the case of Atiq Ahmad.

“It is clear that there is an emerging pattern in these custodial killings where persons belonging to the political opposition are the main targets,” his plea said.

The petitioner claimed the modus operandi of assassination of his father, five-term MLA would be one which is not novel but as has been used to carry out killings in jail in several other cases.