Gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari.
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Uttar Pradesh government to ensure that gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari, currently lodged in Banda jail in Uttar Pradesh, is "not visited by any unforeseen situation," while noting the security arrangements made for him appeared to be “formidable enough”.
A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and Prashant Kumar Mishra was hearing a plea filed by Umar Ansari, son of Mukhtar Ansari, raising concerns regarding his father’s safety within the jail premises and seeking a direction to transfer him to any other prison outside Uttar Pradesh.
Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj, representing Uttar Pradesh, brought on record details regarding the number of cases pending against Mukhtar Ansari at different stages and the security arrangements made for him.
The apex court noted that Mukhtar Ansari was earlier permitted to attend the court hearings through virtual mode.
The apex court directed Uttar Pradesh authorities to continue with the security measures to ensure that Ansari is not visited with any “unforeseen situation” and, after examining a chart regarding security arrangements for Ansari, observed they appeared to be “formidable enough”.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, for the petitioner, asked the bench to adjourn the matter to July.
The court said the state’s counsel has brought to its notice certain measures and noted that even with all precautions, "things may happen".
“For the moment, whatever is being done, let it continue,” the bench said.
The bench added, “We deem it appropriate to direct the authorities of Uttar Pradesh state to continue with all the security measures to ensure that detenu Mukhtar Ansari is not visited with any unforeseen situation”.
The bench scheduled the matter for further hearing in the third week of July.
Umar's plea argued that "anti-social elements" in the state have become bold enough to commit murders in full public view, on live television, in the presence of the police, as exemplified in the case of Atiq Ahmad.
“It is clear that there is an emerging pattern in these custodial killings where persons belonging to the political opposition are the main targets,” his plea said.