Judicial Inquiry Ordered Into Mukhtar Ansari's Death

A Chief Judicial Magistrate's court in Uttar Pradesh's Banda district has ordered a judicial inquiry into the death of Gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari Mukhtar Ansari who died yesterday evening allegedly due to cardiac arrest, PTI reported.

Banda Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Bhagwan Das Gupta has appointed Garima Singh, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (MP-MLA Court Banda) as the officer in charge of the inquiry and a report has been sought within a month.

Ansari passed away due to a cardiac arrest on Thursday shortly after being urgently taken to Rani Durgawati Medical College in Banda district. As per the probe order letter, the Senior Superintendent of District Jail, Banda, submitted a request to the concerned CJM on March 28 to appoint an officer to conduct a judicial inquiry into Ansari's death.

Ansari's death has triggered accusations of foul play from his family. His son, Umar Ansari, has claimed that his father was "fed poison in his food" on March 19, which ultimately resulted in his death.

Ansari, a five-time former MLA, who was facing more than five dozen cases, had been languishing in jail since 2005. He was an accused in the case involving the murder of BJP leader Krishnanand Rai and various other cases.

In December last year, the State of Uttar Pradesh assured the Supreme Court that Ansari's protection would be ensured in jail. The statement was made in a plea moved by his son, Umar Ansari apprehending 'serious and imminent threat' to his father's life who is currently lodged in Banda Jail in Uttar Pradesh.