Mukhtar Ansari gets life term: All you need to know about the 1991 Awadhesh Rai murder

Jailed mafia Mukhtar Ansari was convicted in 1991 Awhesh Rai murder case on Monday, June 5. Ansari, a gangster-turned-politician, has been sentenced to life imprisonment. Awhesh Rai, a Congress leer, was shot de on August 3, 1991 at gates of his Lahurabir residence in Varanasi. A case was registered against Mukhtar Ansari and ors. Reacting to verdict, Awhesh Rai's bror and senior Congress leer Ajay Rai said, "This is end of our 32-year struggle against a notorious criminal. I, my parents, Awhesh's daughter and whole family kept patience... Governments came and went and Mukhtar strengned himself." 

Mukhtar Ansari faces 61 criminal cases in different states. With Monday's conviction, Ansari has now been convicted in six crimes. In April this year, Mukhtar Ansari was sentenced to 10 years in jail by a Ghazipur court under Gangsters Act, or Uttar Presh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986. 

Along with life imprisonment, MP/MLA court's special judge imposed a fine of Rs 1.20 lakh on him, a lawyer told reporters outside court. Ansari attended court proceeding from Banda jail through video conference.

What happened to Awhesh Rai? 

On August 3, 1991, Ajay Rai and his bror Awhesh were standing at gate of ir house in Varanasi when some assailants, including Ansari, came re in a car and shot Awhesh. Ajay Rai fired from his licensed pistol in retaliation, following which assailants fled, leaving car.  Awhesh was rushed to a hospital in Kabirchaura, where doctors declared him de, Press Trust of India reported. 

Who is Ajay Rai? 

Awhesh Rai's bror Ajai Rai was BJP MLA thrice, winning Kolsala assembly constituency from 1996 to 2007. He won 2009 Assembly bypolls from same seat as an Independent candidate. He won 2012 assembly elections from Pindra seat on a Congress ticket.

Rai was Congress candidate in 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi against Narendra Modi and was placed in third position after AAP leer Arvind Kejriwal. He lost 2017 assembly polls as well as 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Three things you need to know about Mukhtar Ansari 

• Ansari is a five-time MLA from Mau Sar seat. He did not contest 2022 Uttar Presh Assembly election. His son, Abbas Ansari, won seat that year from Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, which h tied up with Samajwi Party.  

• "A total of 61 cases are pending against Mukhtar Ansari in Uttar Presh," according to UP Police's Special Director General, Law and Order, Prashant Kumar. Kumar said cases are registered in Ghazipur, Varanasi, Chandauli, Sonbhra, Agra, Lucknow, Barabanki, Mau, Azamgarh and or districts.  "Ansari has so far been convicted in six cases -- two each in Ghazipur and Lucknow, and one each in New Delhi and Varanasi," Kumar said.

• On April 29, a Ghazipur court sentenced Ansari to 10 years in prison and his bror Afzal Ansari to a four-year jail term in a 2007 case under Gangsters Act for murder of BJP MLA Krishnan Rai. 

How has Mukhtar Ansari reacted to his conviction 

Mukhtar Ansari's lawyer, who h urged court to consider convict's age while pronouncing judgement, said y would appeal in a higher court after going through verdict. Ansari is said to be 59 years old. 

Asked about remarks of Ansari's lawyer, Ajay Rai said, "We will fight up to Supreme Court. We fought for 32 years and we will continue to do so."

(With inputs from PTI)