In the case of Mokhtar Ansari versus the State of UP, Mukhtar Ansari, a gangster-turned-politician, was denied bail in connection with the case of misappropriation of MLA funds by the Allahabad High Court.
Ansari is accused of diverting Rs 25 lakh from his MLA fund to build a school on a plot of land in Mau’s Sarwan village. The money was released in three instalments between 2012 and 2015, but an investigation revealed that the school was never built.
After hearing Mukhtar Ansari’s bail petition on May 20, the High Court reserved its decision.
The court denied Mukhtar Ansari’s bail application on Monday, June 13. The bench of Justice Rahul Chaturvedi handed down the verdict on Monday. Mukhtar Ansari represents the Uttar Pradesh constituency of Mau.
Justice Rahul Chaturvedi observed “Assessing the totality of circumstances, I do not find any good reason to release the applicant on bail and, as a result, the bail application of the applicant Mukhtar Anasri is hereby rejected. There are 54 cases pending against the applicant, who is 58 years old. This reveals a lot about his shady past and criminal history. Because of his alleged ‘Robin Hood’ image, the applicant requires no introduction in Uttar Pradesh. He is a hardened and habitual offender who has been involved in the criminal justice system since 1986, but he has never been convicted”
According to the state government, the gangster-turned-politician has evaded 26 warrants issued by a Prayagraj court due to medical concerns. In the Ghazipur district, nearly 40 criminal cases have been filed against him at a single police station. In a number of cases, the five-term MLA has been found not guilty.
On April 24, 2021, an FIR lodged against him for funds misappropriation at the Sarai Lakhansi police station in Mau. The case was filed under the Indian Penal Code’s Sections 419 (cheating), 420 (dishonesty), 467 (forgery of documents), 468, 471 (fraud), and 120B (criminal conspiracy).