Another blow for don Mukhtar Ansari as ED arrests his MLA son Abbas post 9 hrs of grilling

In anor blow for don-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, his son Abbas was arrested by ED on Friday night in a money laundering case. Abbas Ansari won from Mau in Uttar Presh Assembly election held earlier this year on ticket of Om Prakash Rajbhar-led Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, an ally of Samajwi Party. As per reports, legislator's name propped up during investigation into Prevention of Money Laundering Act case against his far. ED issued a lookout notice against Mau MLA last month after he skipped summons on multiple occasions. 

Moreover, Abbas Ansari was also declared an absconder in an arms license case by a special MP-MLA court in August. Speaking to media, his lawyer Mohamm Farooq said, "Abbas Ansari was called by ED for second time today and he h come around 2 pm. questioning lasted till 11 pm after which he was arrested and taken to some unknown place. Can't tell why y have been arrested and taken away". In run-up to election, EC imposed a one-day campaign ban on Ansari for threatening to "settle scores" with government officials in scenario that SP-led alliance forms government.

Mukhtar Ansari's role in UP politics

Currently languishing in Banda jail, Mukhtar Ansari was elected as an MLA from Mau constituency and faces more than 50 criminal cases not just in UP but or states as well. In a big announcement on September 10, 2021, Mayawati declared that no mafia don including Ansari will be fielded in 2022 Uttar Presh Assembly election signalling her intent to counter  criminalization of politics. Incidentally, former UP CM's decision came days after Mukhtar Ansari's bror Sigbatullah joined Samajwi Party in presence of Akhilesh Yav.

While Sigbatullah Ansari is a former MLA from Mohammab, ir or bror Afzal Ansari is a BSP MP from Ghazipur Lok Sabha constituency. After all Ansari brors were expelled from BSP in 2010, y formed Quami Ekta Dal which later merged into Mayawati-led party ahe of 2017 Assembly polls. In September, Ansari was sentenced to undergo a jail term of 5 years and 7 years after being convicted in an Arms Act case and for threatening and pointing a gun at a jailer respectively. Thus, he has been barred from contesting any election for foreseeable future.