Banda jail’s barrack no.16 being opened a year after Mukhtar Ansari’s death

The barrack was sealed in the presence of a magistrate the day after Mukhtar Ansari was pronounced dead at the medical college, with all his belongings inside

Published on: Mar 28, 2025, 22:52:38 IST

By Haidar Naqvi

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KANPUR A year after gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari’s death following a heart attack while being lodged in Banda jail on March 28, 2024, the jail administration has begun the process of de-sealing his barrack and transferring his belongings to his family members.

Ansari had been lodged in an isolated barrack, number 16, of the jail. He was shifted to Banda Medical College and died due to cardiac arrest, according to a magisterial inquiry report. However, his family claimed poisoning and moved the Supreme Court.

The barrack was sealed in the presence of a magistrate the day after Mukhtar Ansari was pronounced dead at the medical college, with all his belongings inside. It had remained unopened since then.

“The process to unseal the barrack and hand over Ansari’s belongings to his family is being carried out as per the directions of the MP-MLA court,” saud jail superintendent Anil Kumar Gautam.

Additional district judge (MP-MLA court) Garima Singh had conducted an inquiry into the death and instructed the jail administration to unseal the barrack and return the belongings to the deceased’s family. The directions were included in the report she submitted on September 24, 2024, which outlined the entire process for the administration to follow.

The jail administration sent a letter to the district magistrate of Banda on Friday, requesting the nomination of a magistrate to head the committee overseeing the process, which is to be video-recorded. In addition, the jail administration sent four letters to Ansari’s family since September, asking them to collect his belongings. “The family has responded that it fears for its safety and will not be able to come. Instead, they have nominated their lawyer, Naseem, to act on their behalf,” said Gautam.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Haidar Naqvi
Haidar Naqvi is an Assistant Editor with the Hindustan Times in Kanpur and has been with the newspaper since May 1997, after beginning his journalism career with The Times of India. Over more than three decades, he has reported on terrorism, internal security, politics, governance and public affairs, with a particular focus on the changing nature of extremist movements in India.From 2008 to 2011, Haidar was part of the Hindustan Times National Reporting Team, contributing to coverage of some of the country's most significant security stories. He was among the reporters who covered the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks as they unfolded and continued reporting on the investigation that exposed the conspiracy behind them.His reporting has followed the rise and evolution of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), the Indian Mujahideen and India's counter-terrorism response, alongside extensive coverage of organised crime and the underworld. He has also reported on Indian Mujahideen serial blasts, the Maoist insurgency, communal riots, parliamentary and assembly elections, and major political developments. Over the years, he has interviewed political leaders, senior police officers, intelligence officials and policymakers, while reporting from communities affected by violence, conflict and public policy.Beyond national security, Haidar has covered politics, minority affairs, governance, wildlife and human-interest stories across Central Uttar Pradesh and Bundelkhand. A recipient of the coveted Hindustan Times' Star Award, he brings historical perspective, field experience and institutional knowledge to reporting on the intersection of security, governance and society.Read More

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