SC Grants Jailed MLA Abbas Ansari Permission for Father’s Memorial Service

The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted permission to incarcerated MLA Abbas Ansari to attend a private prayer service in memory of his late father Mukhtar Ansari on June 10 at his residence in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh.

Apex Court’s Direction

Justices Surya Kant and K V Viswanathan also allowed Abbas Ansari to spend time with his family on June 11 and June 12 while in police custody, directing the state police to make necessary arrangements.

The court ordered that Ansari be transferred to Ghazipur jail before June 9 and permitted him to participate in the prayer service without any obstacles.

“The petitioner shall be brought back to Ghazipur on June 10 at 6 pm and he shall be again taken to his home on June 11 and June 12 at 9 am and will be allowed to spend time with family and close relatives on both dates,” the bench stated.

Additional Advocate General (AAG) for Uttar Pradesh, Garima Prashad, informed the court that all rituals and ceremonies related to the death of Ansari’s father had been completed, as per his own admission. The apex court directed that Ansari be returned to Kasganj jail on June 13.

The UP AAG requested the bench to clarify in its order that this decision would not set a precedent, considering the large number of prisoners in the state. “Law and order is for you to tackle. We don’t mind giving this relief to one lakh people,” the bench remarked.

Mukhtar Ansari’s Death

Gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari passed away due to a cardiac arrest at a hospital in Banda, Uttar Pradesh, on March 28.

Earlier, the top court had allowed Abbas Ansari to participate in the 40th day ritual of his father’s demise through online means. Mukhtar Ansari, a five-time MLA from Mau Sadar constituency, was laid to rest in Ghazipur on March 30.

Despite facing over 60 criminal cases, the 63-year-old had been incarcerated in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab since 2005. He died on March 28 night at Rani Durgawati Medical College after being transferred from Banda jail when his health deteriorated.

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