Umamageshwari Maruthapan
The Uttar Pradesh Government has filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court, seeking directions to transfer the Bahujan Samaj Party MLA, Mukhtar Ansari to Banda Jail in Uttar Pradesh. Mukhtar is currently lodged in Punjab.
From the other side, the MLA has expressed his apprehensions that his life is under threat in Uttar Pradesh and requested to attend the proceedings via video conferencing. He is to face trial over the 14 cases pending in his name.
The hearing on this matter is expected to be taken up on 24th February 2021.
Uttar Pradesh had earlier moved the Apex Court to take custody of Ansari by transferring him to Ghaziabad Jail in Uttar Pradesh from the Ropar Jail, Punjab.
It stated that it is intending to proceed with the trials of more than 10 criminal cases against him. All of these are serious charges and FIRs are registered under the Gangster Act and the Indian Penal Code.
The Government alleged that the BSP MLA managed to escape around 26 warrants issued by the Prayagraj Court citing medical reasons like diabetes, hypertension, allergies.
The plea also listed the number of warrants that were issued against Ansari. However, all these orders were turned down and the Punjab Police refused to send Ansari stating medical reasons.
The Uttar Pradesh Government, in its plea, stated that the MLA was “absolutely fit” when he was leaving to the Mohali Court.
The sitting BSP MLA is in the Ropar Jail of Punjab in remand for 2 years for charges which Uttar Pradesh claims to be a “minor” one.
Neither a charge sheet has been registered by the Punjab Police against the MLA nor they have submitted any report in this regard.
The UP Government is continuously pressing the Punjab Government to hand over Ansari as trials cannot proceed further without the presence of the accused. It had even sent a team to Mohali in October 2020 to take over Ansari’s custody but in vain.
It is to be noted that Ansari was taken under the custody of Mohali Court in Punjab on 22nd January 2019 without the permission of the Prayagraj Court.
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