Probe ordered after 'Mukhtar Ansari was poisoned in jail' charge: Top points

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Controversy erupted over the death of jailed gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari after his son claimed that the former MLA was subjected to “slow poisoning” in prison. Ansari (60), who has been in prison since 2005, died of cardiac arrest in Uttar Pradesh’s Banda on Thursday.

The Uttar Pradesh Police has issued prohibitory orders across the state to prevent any law and order situation. Mukhtar Ansari, a five-time MLA from Mau, had over 60 criminal cases pending against him.

The family of Mukhtar Ansari – who had been in jail in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh since 2005 – has alleged that he was poisoned in the prison.

“Mukhtar said that he was given a poisonous substance in his food in jail. This happened for the second time. He was given poison around 40 days ago as well. And, recently, on March 19, he was again given this (poison) due to which his condition was bad,” his brother Afzal Ansari had been quoted as saying by PTI.

Mukhtar Ansari’s son Umar also alleged that his father was given poison in the food and said he would approach the court. “We said this before also and even today we will say the same thing. On March 19, he was poisoned in the dinner. We will move to the judiciary, we have full faith in it…,” he said.

Mukhtar Ansari’s lawyer had earlier this month alleged in the court that there was a threat to his life in Banda jail and that he was fed some poisonous substance along with his food.

Several politicians including Samajadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Bahujan Samaj Party Chief Mayawati have called for a probe into the dreaded gangster’s family’s allegations.

Security was stepped up outside the hospital after his death, and prohibitory orders were imposed across the state to maintain law and order.

Officials said there was special deployment of forces in Banda, Mau, Ghazipur and Varanasi districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh as well, where Ansari wields influence allegedly through a criminal syndicate.

The social media cell of the Uttar Pradesh Police is also on high alert to track “unlawful elements” that may try to spark a riot.

Ansari’s autopsy is being conducted today at Banda Medical College Hospital.

Ansari had also been hospitalised in the early hours of Tuesday and discharged after nearly 14 hours. The prison department had said that Ansari’s health had deteriorated because he was fasting during Ramadan and he had fallen in the washroom.

Ansari, the five-time former MLA from Mau, had more than 60 criminal cases against him, of which 15 were on murder charges.