• By Mayukh Debnath
  • Fri, 29 Mar 2024 11:36 AM (IST)
  • Source:JND

Mukhtar Ansari Family Background: The mortal remains of dreaded gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, who passed away due to a cardiac arrest at the age of 60, will be buried at a graveyard in Uttar Pradesh's Banda district on Friday. Prior to the burial, Mukhtar's autopsy will be conducted by a team of five doctors in the rank of Chief Medical Superintendent.

The family of the deceased will be allowed to remain present during the post-mortem and the entire process will be video graphed, news agency IANS reported. Mukhtar's younger son, Umar Ansari, told reporters that the family wanted the autopsy to be carried out outside Banda district. Family sources cited by IANS said that their lawyers will also put in an application for parole for Abbas Ansari, Mukhtar's elder son, so that he can attend his father's burial.

40-Year-Old Crime Empire Comes To An End

Mukhtar's death brought an end to his criminal empire that spanned nearly four decades. His notoriety can be gauged by the fact that though he was facing 60 criminal cases, with the first one dating back to 1978, he was convicted for the first time as recently as in September 2022. The crackdown on Mukhtar and his organised crime syndicate began under the first government of incumbent Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in 2017.

Mukhtar Ansari's Political Ties

The state government's push to bolster the prosecution's efforts against Mukhtar yielded results with eight convictions in just 1.5 years since September 2022. It is widely believed that the delay in Mukhtar facing the wrath of the law was due to his ties with the parties that ruled the state prior to the formation of the BJP government in 2017. Mukhtar, who stepped into the world of crime at 17 years old, was a five-term MLA and a one-time Member of Parliament (MP).

He won his first election as MLA on a ticket from the Bahujan Samaj Party in 1996. Later, he switched alliance to the Samajwadi Party. However, owing to his individual stature, he also served twice as an Independent MLA.

Mukhtar Ansari Family Background

Mukhtar Ansari's immediate family members, including his wife and sons, also have a long list of pending criminal cases against them. He is survived by his wife and two sons.

- Mukhtar Ansari's wife, Afsa, is presently absconding and has 11 criminal cases, including those under the Gangster Act, registered against her. Out of the 11, three cases are pending in the court, whereas in the remaining others, the police have filed their chargesheet.

- Mukhtar Ansari's elder brother, former MLA Sibgatullah Ansari, has been acquitted in two cases, including one pertaining to attempted murder. In a third case against Sibgatullah, the police have submitted its final report.

- Another of Mukhtar's brothers, Afzal Ansari, has seven criminal cases registered against him. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is presently investigating a murder case against him.

Last year, Afzal was disqualified from the Lok Sabha following his conviction in a criminal case, for sentenced to imprisonment for four years. He had won from Ghazipur as a candidate of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in the Lok Sabha election held in 2019.

SP has fielded Afzal as its candidate from the Ghazipur seat for the upcoming Lok Sabha election.

- Eight criminal cases are registered against Mukhtar's elder son, serving Mau MLA Abbas Ansari. Abbas's wife Nikhat was recently apprehended by the police. She allegedly used to visit Abbas illegally in Chitrakoot jail. Sections of criminal conspiracy and those under the Prevention of Corruption Act were invoked against her.

- Mukhtar's younger son, Umar Ansari, is an accused in six criminal cases.

(With inputs from Jagran.com)