SC grants bail to Umar Ansari in violation of model code of conduct case

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to Umar Ansari, son of late gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, in a criminal case registered against him during the 2022 assembly elections for alleged violation of the model code of conduct.

A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and PK Mishra asked Umar to appear before the trial court in connection with the case.

During the hearing, senior advocate Garima Prashad, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, said Ansari has not been appearing before the trial court in the case.

She said it is a case of inciting people in a congregation and the co-accused, who appeared before the trial court, have got regular bail.

"Please direct him to appear before the trial court and seek regular bail instead of anticipatory bail," she urged the court.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Ansari, contested Prashad's claim and said he had appeared before the trial court and furnished bonds.

"He was on the stage but did not utter a word with regard to the offending statement," Sibal submitted.

The bench noted the submissions of both the counsel and said it is inclined to grant the relief.

While granting Ansari anticipatory bail, the bench directed him to appear before the trial court and furnish the bail bonds.

On January 25, the top court had granted him protection from arrest in the case.

The Allahabad High Court on December 19 last year had rejected the anticipatory bail application of Ansari, and said that looking at the facts and circumstances of the case, the offence is made out.

An FIR was lodged on March 4, 2022 at Kotwali police station in Mau district against Abbas Ansari (SBSP candidate from Mau Sadar seat), Umar Ansari and 150 unknown people.

It was alleged in the FIR that on March 3, 2022 at Pahadpura ground, Abbas Ansari, Umar Ansari, and organiser Mansoor Ahmad Ansari in a public meeting called for settling a score with the Mau administration. It was a case of violation of the election code of conduct.

Jailed gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari died of cardiac arrest at a hospital in Banda in Uttar Pradesh on March 28.