Gangster Act Case| Allahabad High Court Reserves Order On Disqualified MP Afzal Ansari's Plea To Stay His Conviction
The Allahabad High Court today reserved its order on an application moved by Disqualified MP Afzal Ansari seeking a stay on his conviction (during the pendency of his appeal) in the 2007 Gangster Act case wherein he has been sentenced to 4 years in prison by the Ghazipur MP/MLA Court. The bench of Justice Raj Beer Singh reserved its verdict after hearing the counsel for both sides.It may be...
The Allahabad High Court today reserved its order on an application moved by Disqualified MP Afzal Ansari seeking a stay on his conviction (during the pendency of his appeal) in the 2007 Gangster Act case wherein he has been sentenced to 4 years in prison by the Ghazipur MP/MLA Court.
The bench of Justice Raj Beer Singh reserved its verdict after hearing the counsel for both sides.
It may be noted that the case under the Gangster Act against Ansari and his brother and former UP MLA Mukhtar Ansari was registered after they were booked for their involvement in the kidnapping of Vishwa Hindu Parishad office-bearer Nandkishore Rungta in the year 1996 and also in the murder of Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Krishnanand Rai in the year 2005.
Significantly, two days after his conviction, Afzal Ansari was disqualified as a Member of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction in the case by virtue of provisions contained in article 102 (1) (e) r/w section 8 (3)of the Representation of People Act 1951.
However, this disqualification can be reversed in case the High Court grants a stay on his conviction or it goes on to decide the appeal moved against the conviction in favour of Ansari.
In his appeal before the High Court, it has been stated that the Trial Court could not appreciate the evidence available on record correctly and it also ignored the version of the defence appellant.
It has also been stated in the appeal that the Trial Court referred to the statements of the witnesses recorded during examination-in-chief and without analyzing the evidentiary value of the same, came to the conclusion that the appellant (Ansari) was guilty under section 3 (1) of The Uttar Pradesh Gangsters & Anti Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986.
Senior Advocate GS Chaturvedi along with Advocates Upendra Upadhyay and Ajay Srivastava to appear for the Ansari.