Mukhtar Ansari

Ansari's paternal grandfather was Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari, a surgeon, and an early president of the Indian National Congress in 1927 and of Muslim League in 1918 and 1920.{{cite web | url = http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/UP-photos-robinhoods-who-scare-worlds-most-wanted-dawood-ibrahim-3540419.html | title = Robinhoods who scare world's most-wanted Dawood Ibrahim | publisher = Daily Bhaskar | date = 18 July 2012 | access-date = 19 March 2014 | archive-date = 20 March 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140320023247/http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/UP-photos-robinhoods-who-scare-worlds-most-wanted-dawood-ibrahim-3540419.html | url-status = live }} His father was Subhan Ullah Ansari, who was a leader of the Communist party.{{Cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/lucknow-news/impact-of-mafia-politician-mukhtar-ansari-who-dominated-mau-ghazipur-likely-to-continue-after-death-101711652914067.html |title=Impact of mafia -politician Mukhtar Ansari who dominated Mau-Ghazipur likely to continue after death, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sudhir Kumar, Hindustan Times, Mar 29, 2024 |date=29 March 2024 |access-date=1 April 2024 |archive-date=31 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331064738/https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/lucknow-news/impact-of-mafia-politician-mukhtar-ansari-who-dominated-mau-ghazipur-likely-to-continue-after-death-101711652914067.html |url-status=live }} Mukhtar Ansari's grand-uncle was Mohammad Usman, who was a brigadier in the Indian Army; he never married and remained bachelor all his life.{{cite web | url = https://www.bbc.com/hindi/india-53407634#:~:text=%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%8B%20%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%20%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%20%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%20%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%87%20%E0%A4%94%E0%A4%B0%20%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%87%20%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%A8%20%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%20%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%A4%20%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%BC%E0%A4%BE%20%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%20%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%BC%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AC%20%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%9A%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9A%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%82%20%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%80%20%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%A6%20%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%87%20%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%8F%20%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE%20%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE. | title = "ब्रिगेडियर उस्मान: 'नौशेरा का शेर' जिस पर पाकिस्तान ने रखा था 50,000 का इनाम" | publisher = www.bbc.com | date = 4 November 2021 | access-date = 29 April 2023 | archive-date = 29 April 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230429050653/https://www.bbc.com/hindi/india-53407634#:~:text=%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%8B%20%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%20%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%20%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%20%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%87%20%E0%A4%94%E0%A4%B0%20%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%87%20%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%A8%20%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%20%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%A4%20%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%BC%E0%A4%BE%20%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%20%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%BC%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AC%20%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%9A%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9A%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%82%20%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%80%20%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%A6%20%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%87%20%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%8F%20%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE%20%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE. | url-status = live }}

Ansari's family claim patrilineal lineage from the 11th century sufi saint Abdullah Ansari of Herat in Afghanistan, who was a direct descendant of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, a companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/ANSARISOFYUSUFPUR | title=Ansaris of Yusufpur | date=November 2013 }}

In the early 1970s, the government commissioned several development projects in the Poorvanchal area. This resulted in the rise of organised gangs that competed with each other to grab the contracts for these projects. Ansari was originally an alleged member of the Makhanu Singh gang. In the 1980s, this gang clashed with another gang led by Sahib Singh over a plot of land in Saidpur, resulting in a series of violent incidents. Brijesh Singh, an alleged member of Sahib Singh's gang, later formed his own gang and took over Ghazipur's contract work mafia in the 1990s. Ansari's gang competed with him for the control of the {{INR}} 100 crore contract business, which spanned areas such as coal mining, railway construction, scrap disposal, public works, and the liquor business. The gangs were also allegedly involved in running protection ("goonda tax") and extortion rackets, besides other criminal activities such as kidnapping.{{cite journal |author=Aman Sethi |date=17–30 December 2005 |title=Rule of the outlaw |url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2226/stories/20051230004301700.htm |journal=Frontline |volume=22 |issue=26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818112004/https://frontline.thehindu.com/cover-story/article30207790.ece |archive-date=18 August 2020}}

Ansari entered politics around 1995 through a student union at Government PG College, Ghazipur, became an MLA in 1996, and started challenging Brijesh Singh's dominance. The two became the main gang rivals in the Poorvanchal region.{{cite web |author=Alka Pande |date=9 December 2005 |title=A Slice Of Sicily |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?229602 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717141959/https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/a-slice-of-sicily/229602 |archive-date=17 July 2020 |publisher=Outlook}} In 2002, Singh allegedly ambushed Ansari's convoy. Three of Ansari's men were killed in the resulting shootout. Brijesh Singh was critically injured and presumed dead. {{cite news |title=UP |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/up-cops-had-claimed-don-died-in-gang-war/articleshow/2729533.cms |access-date=29 March 2024 |work=The Times of India |date=25 January 2008 |archive-date=29 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329154444/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/up-cops-had-claimed-don-died-in-gang-war/articleshow/2729533.cms |url-status=live }} To counter Ansari's political influence, Singh supported the election campaign of the BJP leader Krishnanand Rai. Rai defeated Mukhtar Ansari's brother and five-time MLA Afzal Ansari from Mohammadabad in the 2002 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Mukhtar Ansari later claimed that Rai used his political office to award all the contracts to Brijesh Singh's gang, and the two planned to eliminate him.

Ansari capitalised on the Muslim votebank to secure his electoral triumph during the Ghazipur-Mau area elections. The amalgamation of crime, politics, and religion instigated several outbreaks of communal violence within the region. Consequently, Ansari faced charges of inciting violence following one such riot.{{cite news |title=Mau riots accused Ansari surrenders |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/mau-riots-accused-ansari-surrenders/articleshow/1274150.cms |access-date=29 March 2024 |work=The Times of India |date=25 October 2005 |archive-date=29 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329153150/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/mau-riots-accused-ansari-surrenders/articleshow/1274150.cms |url-status=live }} He was subsequently acquitted of these charges by the court.{{cite news |title=Mukhtar, 32 others acquitted |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/mukhtar-32-others-acquitted/story-s7qTMOWumc9eafJx1kS5XI.html |access-date=29 March 2024 |work=Hindustan Times |date=16 September 2006 |language=en |archive-date=29 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329153023/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/mukhtar-32-others-acquitted/story-s7qTMOWumc9eafJx1kS5XI.html |url-status=live }}

While Ansari was lodged in jail, Krishnanand Rai was shot dead in public along with his six aides after Special Task Force officers warned him of hired killers at the residence of Mukhtar Ansari.{{cite web |date=2013-05-11 |title=Ensure security for MLA murder witness: CBI to cops |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/ensure-security-for-mla-murder-witness-cbi-to-cops/ |accessdate=2014-07-26 |newspaper=The Indian Express}}{{cite web |date=2005-11-30 |title=MLA killing: Railway, power station attacked |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2005-11-30/india/27850080_1_railway-station-bjp-workers-power-station |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021160936/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2005-11-30/india/27850080_1_railway-station-bjp-workers-power-station |archive-date=2012-10-21 |accessdate=2008-08-31 |newspaper=The Times of India}} The attackers fired over 400 bullets from six AK-47 rifles; 67 bullets were recovered from the seven bodies with the help of Ramashrey Giri. Shashikant Rai, an important witness in the case, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in 2006. He had identified Ansari and Bajrangi's shooters, Angad Rai and Gora Rai, as the two gunmen who attacked Rai's convoy. The police dismissed his death as a suicide.{{cite news | url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Key-witnesss-murder-to-weaken-case-against-Ansari-Bajrangi-/articleshow/5713824.cms?referral=PM | title = Key witness's murder to weaken case against Ansari, Bajrangi | date = 23 March 2010 | newspaper = The Times of India | access-date = 19 March 2014 | archive-date = 21 April 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230421070354/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Key-witnesss-murder-to-weaken-case-against-Ansari-Bajrangi-/articleshow/5713824.cms?referral=PM | url-status = live }} Ansari's rival, Brijesh Singh, escaped from the Ghazipur-Mau area after Rai's murder. He was later arrested in 2008 in Orissa, and later entered politics as a member of the Pragatisheel Manav Samaj Party.{{cite news | url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/Little-known-party-fields-mafia-don-Brijesh-Singh/articleshow/11322299.cms?referral=PM | title = Little known party fields mafia don Brijesh Singh | date = 1 January 2012 | newspaper = The Times of India | access-date = 19 March 2014 | archive-date = 28 November 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181128054539/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/Little-known-party-fields-mafia-don-Brijesh-Singh/articleshow/11322299.cms?referral=PM | url-status = live }}

In 2008, Ansari was booked for ordering an attack on Dharmendra Singh, a witness in a murder case. However, later, the victim submitted an affidavit requesting the proceedings against Ansari be dropped. On 27 September 2017, Ansari was acquitted of murder.{{Cite web|url=https://scroll.in/latest/852134/uttar-pradesh-mla-mukhtar-ansari-acquitted-in-eight-year-old-murder-case|title=Uttar Pradesh MLA Mukhtar Ansari acquitted in eight-year-old murder case|date=27 September 2017 |access-date=4 October 2017|archive-date=18 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218224924/https://scroll.in/latest/852134/uttar-pradesh-mla-mukhtar-ansari-acquitted-in-eight-year-old-murder-case|url-status=live}}

Ansari and his brother Afzal joined the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in 2007. The party allowed them in after they claimed that they had been framed in criminal cases for fighting against the "feudal system" and promised to refrain from participating in any crimes. The BSP chief Mayawati portrayed Mukhtar Ansari as Robin Hood and called him "a messiah of the poor".{{cite book | author=Patrick French | title=India: A Portrait | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9Umq5giFg8gC&pg=PA258 | year=2011 | publisher=Knopf Doubleday | isbn=978-0-307-59664-2 | page=258 }} Ansari fought the 2009 Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi on the BSP ticket while still lodged in the jail.{{cite news | url = http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/bsp-fields-mukhtar-ansari-from-varanasi/article356363.ece | title = BSP fields Mukhtar Ansari from Varanasi | date = 17 February 2009 | newspaper = The Hindu | access-date = 19 March 2014 | archive-date = 20 March 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140320011324/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/bsp-fields-mukhtar-ansari-from-varanasi/article356363.ece | url-status = live }} He lost to BJP's Murli Manohar Joshi by a margin of 17,211 votes; he received 27.94% of the votes, compared to Joshi's 30.52%.{{cite news | url = http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-varanasi-won-t-be-a-walk-through-for-narendra-modi-1970368 | title = Varanasi won't be a walk through for Narendra Modi | date = 19 March 2014 | author = Iftikhar Gilani | newspaper = DNA | access-date = 19 March 2014 | archive-date = 20 March 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140320013027/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-varanasi-won-t-be-a-walk-through-for-narendra-modi-1970368 | url-status = live }}{{cite web | url = http://www.electionplans.com/election/state/india/constituency/2544/200904/ | title = General Elections Results, Apr 2009: Varanasi | publisher = ZillR ElectionPlans.com | accessdate = 19 March 2014 | archive-date = 20 March 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140320012204/http://www.electionplans.com/election/state/india/constituency/2544/200904/ | url-status = live }}

Ansari and two other people were charged for the murder of Kapil Dev Singh in April 2009. The police also found that he had ordered the murder of a contractor, Ajay Prakash Singh in August 2009.{{cite news | url = http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/maya-s-party-expels--messiah-of-poor--mukhtar-ansari-his-brother/607660/0 | title = Maya's party expels 'messiah of poor' Mukhtar Ansari, his brother | date = 17 April 2010 | newspaper = Indian Express | access-date = 19 March 2014 | archive-date = 20 March 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140320012513/http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/maya-s-party-expels--messiah-of-poor--mukhtar-ansari-his-brother/607660/0 | url-status = live }} In 2010, Ansari was booked for the murder of Ram Singh Maurya. Maurya was a witness to the murder of Mannat Singh, a local contractor allegedly killed by Ansari's gang in 2009.{{cite news | url = http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/mukhtar-ansari-booked-in-murder-case/593546/ | title = Mukhtar Ansari booked in murder case | date = 21 March 2010 | newspaper = Indian Express | access-date = 19 March 2014 | archive-date = 20 March 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140320011908/http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/mukhtar-ansari-booked-in-murder-case/593546/ | url-status = live }}

The two brothers were expelled by the BSP in 2010 after the party realized that they were still involved in criminal activities. A raid at Ghazipur jail, where he was lodged, revealed that Mukhtar was living a luxurious life: items like air coolers and cooking equipment were found from his cell. He was shifted to the Mathura prison soon after the raid.

In 2004, an FIR was logged by DSP Shailendra Singh against Mukhtar Ansari under POTA after recovering a light machine gun (LMG) from his premises. DSP Shailendra Singh was later implicated in the fake case of vandalism for recommending the arrest after falling out with the then ruling Samajwadi Party government led by Mulayam Singh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh. The former DSP was exonerated from fake case by the Yogi Adithyanath Government in 2021.

After being expelled from the BSP and being rejected by other political parties, the three Ansari brothers (Mukhtar, Afzal, and Sibkatillah) formed their own political party called the Quami Ekta Dal (QED), in 2010. Earlier, Mukhtar had launched an outfit called the Hindu Muslim Ekta Party, which was merged with QED.{{cite news | url = http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/ansaris-launch-own-political-outfit-will-contest-polls/657896/ | title = Ansaris launch own political outfit, will contest polls | date = 9 August 2010 | newspaper = The Indian Express | access-date = 19 March 2014 | archive-date = 20 March 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140320012509/http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/ansaris-launch-own-political-outfit-will-contest-polls/657896/ | url-status = live }} In 2012, he was charged under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act for being a member of an organised crime syndicate.{{cite news | url = http://zeenews.india.com/news/uttar-pradesh/up-mla-mukhtar-ansari-charged-under-mcoca_773111.html | title = UP MLA Mukhtar Ansari charged under MCOCA | date = 3 March 2012 | publisher = Zee News | access-date = 19 March 2014 | archive-date = 20 March 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140320012702/http://zeenews.india.com/news/uttar-pradesh/up-mla-mukhtar-ansari-charged-under-mcoca_773111.html | url-status = live }}

In March 2014, Ansari announced that he would contest the 2014 Lok Sabha elections against Narendra Modi from Varanasi and lost there with by a huge margin, besides contesting from Ghosi.{{cite news | url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/Mukhtar-to-challenge-Modi-in-Varanasi/articleshow/31933494.cms | title = Mukhtar to challenge Modi in Varanasi | date = 13 March 2014 | newspaper = The Times of India | access-date = 19 March 2014 | archive-date = 20 March 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140320000645/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/Mukhtar-to-challenge-Modi-in-Varanasi/articleshow/31933494.cms | url-status = live }} However, in April, he withdrew his candidature stating that he wanted to prevent the division of "secular votes".{{cite news | url = http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mukhtar-ansari-opts-out-of-contest-against-narendra-modi-in-varanasi/1/354999.html | title = Mukhtar Ansari opts out of contest against Narendra Modi in Varanasi | date = 10 April 2014 | publisher = India Today | access-date = 10 April 2014 | archive-date = 10 April 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140410190835/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mukhtar-ansari-opts-out-of-contest-against-narendra-modi-in-varanasi/1/354999.html | url-status = live }}

On 26 January 2016, Ansari rejoined the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) before the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Legislative elections. There was widespread speculation about the Ansari brothers joining the Samajwadi party a couple of months before. BSP chief Mayawati defended his entry into the party, stating that the criminal charges against Ansari had not been proven, and that the party gives people a chance to reform themselves.{{cite news |url=http://www.financialexpress.com/elections/uttar-pradesh-assembly-elections-2017/mukhtar-ansari-joins-mayawatis-bsp-here-are-the-five-key-facts-about-the-don-turned-politician/523774/ |title=Mukhtar Ansari joins Mayawati's BSP |newspaper=Financial Express |date=26 January 2017 |access-date=26 January 2017 |archive-date=26 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126211036/http://www.financialexpress.com/elections/uttar-pradesh-assembly-elections-2017/mukhtar-ansari-joins-mayawatis-bsp-here-are-the-five-key-facts-about-the-don-turned-politician/523774/ |url-status=live }}

Eventually, Ansari merged his Quami Ekta Dal with the BSP in 2017 and won the state elections as a BSP candidate from the Mau assembly seat. He defeated his nearest rival, Mahendra Rajbhar of the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (a BJP ally) by 6464 votes.{{cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/assembly-elections/up-election-2017-mukhtar-ansari-wins-on-bsp-ticket-son-and-brother-lose/story-7OrV4Zb6Zap7iYo353zFAL.html |title=UP election 2017: Mukhtar Ansari wins on BSP ticket, son and brother lose |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=12 March 2017 |access-date=31 May 2017 |archive-date=8 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170608142154/http://www.hindustantimes.com/assembly-elections/up-election-2017-mukhtar-ansari-wins-on-bsp-ticket-son-and-brother-lose/story-7OrV4Zb6Zap7iYo353zFAL.html |url-status=live }}

Ansari was elected five times as MLA from the Mau constituency.{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.in/uttar-pradesh/assembly-constituencies/mau.html |title=Mau Assembly Constituency elections |work=Election Commission of India |access-date=28 September 2022 |archive-date=28 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928142720/https://www.elections.in/uttar-pradesh/assembly-constituencies/mau.html |url-status=live }}

After inaugurating a cricket tournament in 2005, MLA Krishnanand Rai's cavalcade was ambushed while he was returning home.  Krishnanand Rai and six of his aides were killed by AK-47 bullet fires.{{Cite web |title='By Gorakhnath's grace; in Ramzan', says family of MLA killed by Mukhtar Ansari |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mukhtar-ansari-death-bjp-mla-krishnanand-rai-family-justice-uttar-pradesh-2520667-2024-03-29 |access-date=29 March 2024 |website=India Today |date=29 March 2024 |language=en |archive-date=29 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329075254/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mukhtar-ansari-death-bjp-mla-krishnanand-rai-family-justice-uttar-pradesh-2520667-2024-03-29 |url-status=live }} Ansari was acquitted of the murder in 2019.{{cite news |title=In prison since 2005, Mukhtar Ansari faced 65 criminal cases, was convicted in 8 so far |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/mukhtar-ansari-dead-criminal-cases-prison-9239303/ |access-date=8 April 2024 |work=The Indian Express |date=29 March 2024 |language=en}}

Ansari was in jail from 2005 in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab states for another criminal case. Mukhtar Ansari was awarded a life sentence on 13 March 2024 in connection with a fake arms licence case.{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Ratna |date=13 March 2024 |title=UP court sentences Mukhtar Ansari to life imprisonment in fake arms license case |url=https://www.barandbench.com/news/up-court-sentences-mukhtar-ansari-life-imprisonment-fake-arms-license-case |access-date=13 March 2024 |website=Bar and Bench - Indian Legal news |language=en |archive-date=29 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329233850/https://www.barandbench.com/news/up-court-sentences-mukhtar-ansari-life-imprisonment-fake-arms-license-case |url-status=live }}

Ansari died of a heart attack on 28 March, at the age of 60. An autopsy carried out by the panel of doctors from AIIMS Delhi over his body confirmed that Ansari died of a heart attack.{{Cite web |date=28 March 2024 |title=Gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari dies after heart attack: Sources |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/india/story/gangster-turned-politician-mukhtar-ansari-dies-after-heart-attack-423324-2024-03-28 |access-date=28 March 2024 |website=Business Today |language=en |archive-date=28 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328173415/https://www.businesstoday.in/india/story/gangster-turned-politician-mukhtar-ansari-dies-after-heart-attack-423324-2024-03-28 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=28 March 2024 |title=Jailed gangster Mukhtar Ansari passes away due to cardiac arrest |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/jailed-gangster-mukhtar-ansari-passes-away/articleshow/108858786.cms |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257 |archive-date=28 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328174110/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/jailed-gangster-mukhtar-ansari-passes-away/articleshow/108858786.cms |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=29 March 2024 |title=Post-mortem conducted by panel of doctors, autopsy reveals heart attack as cause of Mukhtar Ansari's death |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/post-mortem-conducted-by-panel-of-doctors-autopsy-reveals-heart-attack-as-cause-of-mukhtar-ansaris-death/articleshow/108880774.cms |access-date=29 March 2024 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257 |archive-date=29 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329140626/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/post-mortem-conducted-by-panel-of-doctors-autopsy-reveals-heart-attack-as-cause-of-mukhtar-ansaris-death/articleshow/108880774.cms |url-status=live }} His son, Umar Ansari, has claimed that his father was given a slow poison that led to the heart attack.{{Cite web |title="My Father Was Being Given Slow Poison": Mukhtar Ansari's Son's Big Claim |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/my-father-was-being-given-slow-poison-mukhtar-ansaris-son-5330751 |access-date=29 March 2024 |website=NDTV.com |archive-date=29 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329060623/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/my-father-was-being-given-slow-poison-mukhtar-ansaris-son-5330751 |url-status=live }} 10 days prior to his death, on 19 March 2024, Mukhtar Ansari reported to the Barabanki Court that he was experiencing continuous pain in his nerves and limbs. He attributed this discomfort to some poisonous substance that he believed had been introduced into his food.{{Cite web |title=Probe ordered after 'Mukhtar Ansari was poisoned in jail' charge: Top points |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mukhtar-ansari-dies-up-banda-gangster-politician-death-uttar-pradesh-section-144-latest-updates-2520563-2024-03-29 |access-date=29 March 2024 |website=India Today |date=29 March 2024 |language=en |archive-date=29 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329061442/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mukhtar-ansari-dies-up-banda-gangster-politician-death-uttar-pradesh-section-144-latest-updates-2520563-2024-03-29 |url-status=live }} The Uttar Pradesh government ordered a three-member magisterial investigation into the allegations.

Krishnanand Rai's son, Piyush Rai, in an interview, stated "God has considered his fate in the month of Ramzan," and termed Mukhtar Ansari a "tyrant."{{Cite web |title='Baba Goraknath's grace, during Ramzan': BJP MLA's family on Mukhtar Ansari's death |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mukhtar-ansari-death-bjp-mla-krishnanand-rai-family-justice-uttar-pradesh-2520667-2024-03-29 |access-date=29 March 2024 |website=India Today |date=29 March 2024 |language=en |archive-date=29 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329075254/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mukhtar-ansari-death-bjp-mla-krishnanand-rai-family-justice-uttar-pradesh-2520667-2024-03-29 |url-status=live }} Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the Samajwadi Party, has urged that a judge of the Supreme Court look into Mukhtar Ansari's death.{{Cite web |title=After Mukhtar Ansari's Death, Akhilesh Yadav Demands Supreme Court Probe |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/after-mukhtar-ansaris-death-akhilesh-yadav-demands-supreme-court-probe-over-doubtful-cases-5332665 |access-date=29 March 2024 |website=NDTV.com |archive-date=29 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329110037/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/after-mukhtar-ansaris-death-akhilesh-yadav-demands-supreme-court-probe-over-doubtful-cases-5332665 |url-status=live }}

Asaduddin Owaisi: "Mukhtar Ansari was in judicial custody, and he was killed by giving poison. He is a martyr, don't call him dead. It was the responsibility of the BJP govt to protect him."[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/owaisi-mukhtar-was-poisoned-he-is-a-martyr/articleshow/109637348.cms Asaduddin Owaisi calls Mukhtar Ansari a 'martyr', says he was poisoned]

Akhilesh Yadav: Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday visited the family of Ansari at his ancestral house in Mohammadabad Yusufpur town of Ghazipur district and offered condolences. Praising the Ansari family for its contribution in India’s freedom struggle, Mr. Yadav questioned the circumstances under which the former five-time MLA died, and hoped truth would come out and the family would get justice.

“Mukhtar Ansari himself said he was being poisoned and that is what has come to light. We hope that the government will bring out the truth and the family will get justice. Ever since the BJP government has come to power, trust in institutions has decreased,” Mr. Yadav told reporters. He added, “Did Mukhtar Ansari’s grandfather not contributed to the country’s independence? Are the administration and the government not discriminating? Will we accept that it was a natural death?”[https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/uttar-pradesh/akhilesh-visits-deceased-mukhtar-ansaris-family-in-ghazipur-lauds-familys-contribution-for-country/article68039725.ece Akhilesh visits deceased Mukhtar Ansari’s family in Ghazipur, lauds family’s contribution for country ]

• Criminalization of politics
• Vohra Report on criminalisation of politics in India
• Mafia Raj
• Rent-seeking

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{{Organised crime in India}}

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Category:1963 births

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