NEW DELHI: Gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari passed away due to a heart attack at a hospital in Uttar Pradesh late last night. Ansari, who had been in jail in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh since 2005, was rushed to the hospital in Banda after falling unconscious in the district jail at around 8:45 pm. He died at the Rani Durgavati Medical College during treatment after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Ansari’s family alleges that he was poisoned in prison, claiming that he had been given poisonous substances in his food on multiple occasions, including March 19. The family, including Ansari’s brother Afzal and son Umar, stated that Mukhtar Ansari had raised concerns about being poisoned in jail. His lawyer had also alleged in court earlier this month that there was a threat to his life in Banda jail and that he was fed some poisonous substances along with his food.
ALSO READ: Mahtab’s move from BJD to BJP may shift Odisha politics
Several politicians, including Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi, and BSP Chief Mayawati, have called for an investigation into the family’s allegations. Security was tightened outside the hospital after Ansari’s death, and prohibitory orders were imposed across the state to maintain law and order. Special forces were deployed in districts where Ansari allegedly wielded influence through a criminal syndicate. Ansari’s autopsy is being conducted today at Banda Medical College Hospital.
Mukhtar Ansari, a relative of former Vice-President of India Mohammad Hamid Ansari, was a gangster-turned-politician who served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly from the Mau constituency five times. He won the Mau constituency seat in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on a Bahujan Samaj Party ticket.
ALSO READ: ANI reporter attacks PTI female journo, Netizens shame Smita Prakash
However, Ansari had more than 60 criminal cases against him, including 15 on murder charges. He joined a gang in the 1980s and later formed his own, involved in extortion and kidnapping in various districts of Uttar Pradesh.