Mukhtar Ansari news highlights: Autopsy reveals heart attack as cause of death

A magisterial inquiry was ordered Friday as opposition parties raised questions over the death of gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari, amid allegations by his family that he died due to “slow poisoning” in Banda jail.

A panel of doctors conducted a post-mortem at Rani Durgavati Medical College in Banda, amid a security alert across several districts in Uttar Pradesh.

A long convoy of vehicles left the city in the evening with Ansari’s body for his home district Ghazipur. It included 24 police vehicles, two others carrying family members and the ambulance with the body of the five-time MLA from Mau Sadar.

Alka Rai, the wife of slain BJP leader Krishnanand Rai who was killed at the behest of Ansari, on Friday told reporters outside the Kashi Vishwanath temple here that she got justice because of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"I had full faith in Baba Vishwanath, and we got justice because of Yogi ji and Modi ji," she said. When asked about Mukhtar Ansari's death being termed as a "conspiracy" by the opposition, she said it is wrong.

Alka Rai also said that a number of families had lost their children due to Ansari.

Alka's son Piyush Rai said that the opposition is saying this because it needs an issue to express itself.

On the demise of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, his elder bother Sibgatullah Ansari said to ANI, "We received the body after some delay so the last rites cannot be performed tonight. It will be done tomorrow morning...I request everybody to pray for him."

Chief judicial magistrate (Banda) Bhagwan Dass Gupta on Friday ordered a judicial inquiry into the death of gangster-turned-politician

Mukhtar Ansari, who died after suffering a cardiac arrest in a prison here on Thursday night. MP/MLA court judge Garima Singh was asked to submit the report to the CJM within a month.

The post-mortem examination of Ansari’s body was conducted by a panel of doctors at the Rani Durgawati Medical College. The report negated any suspected poisoning and cited heart attack as the cause of death, said officials.

The usually bustling medical college saw a dramatic decrease in the number of OPD patients amid deployment of heavy police force.

In the wake of the death of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, the entire Ghazipur district administration is on alert, said the district Superintendent of Police, Omvir Singh.

Jailed Ansari died in a hospital in Banda, Uttar Pradesh, on Thursday.

"Since this news flashed last night, the entire district administration is on alert. We are in touch with the family and they have said that the last rites will be done after morning prayers," Omvir Singh told reporters here.

The police officer warned that if anyone violated the Model Code of Conduct, which is in place for the upcoming general election, action would be taken against them.

Jailed gangster-turned-politician Muktar Ansari, who died after suffering cardiac arrest on Thursday, revealed everything "fearlessly" and "confidently" about his crime when he was arrested by a team of Delhi Police Crime Branch in connection with a highly sensational case in 1993.

The case pertained to ransom for kidnapping a businessman from Lutyens Delhi.

"He was around 30-years-old then, full of confidence and showing no fear of law. That was a highly sensational case in those days," recalled Ashok Chand, a retired Delhi Police officer, who led the team and ensured the safe rescue of the businessman from Panchkula at the Punjab-Haryana border, 250 kilometers away from Delhi.

After the completion of postmortem, gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari's body on Friday left for his native place in Ghazipur amidst heavy security from here, police officials said.

The ambulance carrying the body was accompanied by police vehicles to ensure security along the 400-kilometre-long route via several districts of Uttar Pradesh.

As per police officials, Mukhtar Ansari's son Umar Ansari and Abbas Ansari's wife were present inside the ambulance carrying the body.

Here's what Ghazipur SP Omvir Singh said on law and order after Mukhtar Ansari's death.

"Since this news flashed last night, the entire district administration is on alert. We are in touch with the family and they have said that the last rites will be done after morning prayers... Crowd is expected as people will come to pay tribute and the arrangements are made for the same. But, I appeal to the people that the Model Code of Conduct is in effect for general elections and if it is violated by any means or statements made by anyone, action will be taken as per law..." he said to ANI

Union Minister Anurag Thakur took a dig at SP, BSP and Congress over their reactions on Mukhtar Ansari's death saying, "..Those who protected such people to have political benefits can say whatever they want. Medical inquiry has been done, if they demand a judicial inquiry it will be done as well. Everyone has the right to know the truth but they should tell under which crime he was in jail for years? Who induced the fear, who exploited the public and who were they that protected him? SP, BSP and Congress should tell instead of doing politics on incidents like this..."

Mohd Irshad, a local supporter of Mukhtar Ansari expressed his sorrow over his demise. He said, "People are very sad. Many of them are waiting ever since the sad news of Mukhtar Bhai's death reached here. He was messiah for the poor."

A grave has been dug at the Ansari family's burial ground in Kali Bagh for the last rites, Circle Officer (CO) Atar Singh and Pawan Kumar Upadhyaya, an inspector attached to the Mohammadabad police station, said.

Ansari (63) was lodged in the Banda jail and died of a cardiac arrest.

The family of the five-time MLA has alleged that Ansari was subjected to slow poisoning in the jail, a charge denied by the prison authorities.

Mukhtar Ansari's mortal remains being brought to his native place Ghazipur. A large number of security personnel have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order.

People were seen waiting for the arrival of body of the five-time MLA, who was rushed to a hospital from the Banda jail on Thursday after his health condition deteriorated. Ansari died at the hospital during treatment.

A grave has been dug at the Ansari family's burial ground in Kali Bagh for the last rites, Circle Officer (CO) Atar Singh and Pawan Kumar Upadhyaya, an inspector attached to the Mohammadabad police station, said.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi reacted on Mujhtar Ansari's death and said, "The state (Uttar Pradesh)is being run by the rule of the gun and not by the rule of law. Mukhtar Ansari was in judicial custody when his family filed a case in the Supreme Court stating that there was an apprehension by the family that he would be killed inside the prison. Now, he dies and the family say that slow poison was given to him. The surprising thing is that he was not taken to the specialised hospital but to a hospital where there was no proper medical attention given to him and within a short span of time he was sent back to prison. I hope the Uttar Pradesh govt will have an impartial inquiry in the interest of Justice and in the interest of the rule of law. The whole world should know what has happened."

Mukhtar Ansari's mortal remains placed in the hearse. Mukhtar Ansari's younger son Umar, his other son Abbass's wife Nighat, two nephews Ibrahim, Usman, and a handful of people from Ghazipur are in the post mortem house.

Shops remained closed on Friday in Mohammadabad Yusufpur township in Ghazipur district of Uttar Pradesh, the native place of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari who died of a cardiac arrest a day before.

Ansari's body will be brought to his native place for the last rites during the day. A large number of security personnel have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order.

People were seen waiting for the arrival of body of the five-time MLA, who was rushed to a hospital from the Banda jail on Thursday after his health condition deteriorated. Ansari died at the hospital during treatment.

A grave has been dug at the Ansari family's burial ground in Kali Bagh for the last rites, Circle Officer (CO) Atar Singh and Pawan Kumar Upadhyaya, an inspector attached to the Mohammadabad police station, said.

Late British writer and historian Patrick French in his book 'India: A Portrait' had described meeting gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, who died of a cardiac arrest on Thursday evening, in vivid details ahead of the 2009 general elections. The late historian introduced him as “one of the most popular godfathers in Uttar Pradesh.” Read more

At least four of gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari's close aides were killed in custody since 2018, making him fear for his own life.

The five-time Mau MLA's son Umar Ansari had even filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court apprehending the "assassination" of his father in jail.

The 63-year-old Mukhtar Ansari was brought to the Rani Durgavati Medical College in Banda from the district jail in "an unconscious state" on Thursday evening and died at the hospital following a cardiac arrest.

The noose around Mukhtar Ansari, who had over 60 cases lodged against him, began tightening after the BJP government came to power in Uttar Pradesh in 2017.

Mukhtar Ansari's mortal remains are about to be taken to Ghazipur. Vehicles of family persons went inside the post mortem house where a hearse is already stationed. Mukhtar Ansari's body will be handed over to his son, Umar Ansari, following the post-mortem. Mukhtar Ansari died in a hospital in Banda, Uttar Pradesh, on Thursday.

Umar Ansari told ANI that he has written a letter demanding that the postmortem should be done by doctors at AIIMS, Delhi.

BJP leader Sidharth Nath Singh reacted on Mukhtar Ansari's death saying, "Mukhtar Ansari is a criminal; his post-mortem is underway and reports are yet to be out despite that, in a way, political party, especially leaders of SP, Congress and BSP, are jumping now, shows how much pain they have for a criminal. Serious allegations have been made against Mukhtar Ansari and even the court sentenced him to life imprisonment but still their pain towards him indicates how they (SP, Congress and BSP) backed the protection of 'mafia raj'."

A three-member team will conduct a magisterial investigation into the death of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate Banda issued orders concerning the judicial probe. Officials said a panel of two doctors will do the post-mortem, which will be videographed.

Mukhtar Ansari's body will be handed over to his son, Umar Ansari, following the post-mortem. Mukhtar Ansari died in a hospital in Banda, Uttar Pradesh, on Thursday.

Umar Ansari told ANI that he has written a letter demanding that the postmortem should be done by doctors at AIIMS, Delhi.

Jailed gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari died on Thursday night at a hospital in Uttar Pradesh's Banda. The gangster's family has accused the authorities of administering “slow poison” to him. Mukhtar Ansari's son Umar Ansari claimed his father had told him that he was being given "slow poison". "My father had told us he was being subjected to 'slow poison'. Mukhtar Ansari had informed the court through his lawyers in writing that these things are happening," he claimed.

Congress leader from Uttar Pradesh Pankhuri Pathak on Friday called for a judicial probe into every death in police custody, saying the state government and the police administration "becoming so uncontrolled" is "extremely worrying and dangerous".

Pathak, the chairperson of the Congress's social media wing, also claimed that Uttar Pradesh occupies the top spot in the country in terms of custodial killings.

Her remarks came after jailed gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari's death at a hospital in Banda district of the state on Thursday.

Ansari (63) was lodged in the Banda jail and died of a cardiac arrest.

On the death of Mukhtar Ansari after cardiac arrest, former UP DGP Vikram Singh said to ANI, "...This is a serious matter. An inquiry will take place, and a report will be accorded to the court...Earlier also, Senior advocates made the court aware of the health of Mukhtar Ansari and that he needed medical support...After that, he was provided with all proper medical treatment. It's unfortunate as despite that he died due to cardiac arrest..."

Chief Judicial Magistrate's court in Banda asks additional CJM to conduct probe into Mukhtar Ansari's death, submit report in a month, news agency PTI reported.

Ansari (63) was lodged in the Banda jail and died of a cardiac arrest.

The family of the five-time MLA has alleged that Ansari was subjected to slow poisoning in the jail, a charge denied by the prison authorities.

Mukhtar Ansari's son Umar Ansari said to ANI, "It (postmortem) is their procedure. I have written a letter that it should be done by doctors of AIIMS Delhi. We don't trust the medical system, government and administration here...You know why I am saying this...Panchnama is done. DM has to make a decision. Let's see what he decides. The postmortem has not begun...We hope that the court will help investigate the suspicions that we are expressing. We will consult our legal team. We are confident that this is not a natural death but an orchestrated murder."