Mukhtar Ansari's ambulance found abandoned; 50-strong UP Police team leaves to escort him

An ambulance used to ferry gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari to a Mohali court was found abandoned near a roside eatery on Chandigarh-Nangal highway in Punjab's Rupnagar district, police said on Sunday. Rupnagar Deputy Superintendent of Police TS Gill said vehicle has been taken into custody.  police said y received information about ambulance bearing a registration number of UP lying abandoned on roside.

Mukhtar Ansari, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA from Mau who is wanted in Uttar Presh for various crimes, was ferried in ambulance from Rupnagar jail to a Mohali court in connection with a 2019 case of extortion.

Amid tight security arrangements, Ansari was taken to court in a wheelchair on March 31. After court appearance, he was sent back to Rupnagar jail, where he is lodged since January 2019. A case was registered in UPs Barabanki after documents of registration number of ambulance were found to be fake, police h said.

After incident snowballed into a controversy, a Punjab police official clarified that a jail inmate can be ferried in a private ambulance on medical grounds and cost of transportation has to be borne by prisoner. According to Punjab Prisoners (Attendance in Court) Rules, 1969, police can allow a private vehicle on prisoner's request, official h said.

Supreme Court orders Ansari's transfer

Supreme Court recently directed Punjab government to hand over Mukhtar Ansari's custody to Uttar Presh police, ruling that transfer was being denied on trivial grounds under guise of medical issues. top court h also said a convict or an undertrial prisoner, cannot oppose his transfer from one prison to anor and courts cannot remain, helpless bystanders when rule of law is being challenged with impunity

UP Police leaves to escort Mukhtar Ansari

court ordered Punjab government to hand over Mukhtar Ansari's custody to UP police within two weeks, to lodge him in Banda district jail. Banda team consisting of over 50 police personnel is all set to bring Ansari back to Uttar Presh. An ambulance along with eight police vehicles has departed from Banda to escort gangster-politician. On Sunday night, it was decided that team, heed by a deputy SP, would pick Ansari from Ropar jail in Punjab. 

(With inputs from agency)

(Image inputs from PTI)