2022 Hate Speech Case: Allahabad HC Stays Conviction Of Abbas Ansari

Abbas Ansari

The Allahabad High Court has granted major relief to Abbas Ansari, son of late gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, by staying his conviction in a 2022 hate speech case.

Justice Sameer Jain passed the order, effectively putting on hold the May 31 judgment of the MP-MLA court in Mau, which had convicted Abbas under sections 153-A (promoting enmity between groups) and 189 (threatening a public servant) of the Indian Penal Code.

The trial court had sentenced him to two years’ rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹2,000. The conviction also cost him his membership in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly.

Assembly Membership To Be Restored

According to Abbas’s counsel, advocate Upendra Upadhyay, the High Court’s order will lead to the restoration of his assembly membership. Abbas represents the Mau constituency, which he won in 2022 on a Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) ticket.

Earlier, Abbas had moved the sessions court challenging the conviction. However, his plea for a stay was dismissed on July 5. He then approached the High Court seeking relief, which has now been granted.

Background Of The Case

The case stems from a speech Abbas delivered during the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly election campaign. In the speech, he allegedly made derogatory remarks against a government officer. The comments, captured on video, quickly went viral on social media, sparking outrage and prompting legal action.

On May 31, 2025, the CJM MP-MLA court in Mau found Abbas guilty and sentenced him to two years in prison. His election agent, Mansoor Ansari, who was also present on the stage during the rally, was convicted in the same case and handed a six-month jail term.

Significance Of High Court Order

The stay on conviction marks a significant legal reprieve for Abbas Ansari, whose political career faced an abrupt setback after the trial court’s ruling. With the High Court’s intervention, he regains his position as a legislator, bolstering the SBSP’s representation in the UP assembly.

For now, however, the stay provides immediate relief to the SBSP leader, allowing him to reclaim his seat in the assembly and re-engage in active politics.