On 14 December 2023, the Supreme Court provisionally put on hold the conviction of Afzal Ansari, a former MP from the BSP, in a case related to the 2007 Gangsters Act. The decision was made by a bench consisting of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta, and Ujjal Bhuyan. They ruled that Ansari, while not being able to vote in the Lok Sabha or enjoy any privileges, however, he is permitted to participate in the House proceedings.
According to PTI, the court has directed the Allahabad High Court to settle Ansari’s criminal appeal against his conviction and sentence by June 30, 2024. However, Justice Datta disagreed with the majority, resulting in the rejection of Ansari’s appeal.
The verdict is questionable as the Supreme Court should have Members who think about the country and the citizens, not criminals.
The verdict of conviction by the Supreme Court earlier
The Supreme Court had previously deferred its decision on October 31, following the Allahabad High Court’s ruling on July 24, which denied the suspension of the conviction but granted Ansari bail in the same case. The appeal is related to the verdict of a special MP/MLA court that sentenced Afzal Ansari to four years in jail and levied a fine of Rs 1 lakh for his role in the 2007 Gangsters Act case. The court also found his brother, former MLA Mukhtar Ansari, guilty and sentenced him to a 10-year prison term.
About the case
Victim: Krishnanand Rai
Krishnanand Rai was a politician from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India who was murdered in 2005. He was shot and killed by a group of assailants while attending a family function in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. The motive for his murder was believed to be political rivalry and personal enmity. Several individuals were arrested and charged in connection with his murder, including members of a criminal gang and political opponents. The case is still ongoing, and the exact reasons behind his murder may not be fully known.
Victim: Nand Kishore Rungta
Nand Kishore Rungta, a Varanasi-based trader, was kidnapped and murdered in 1997. The investigation into his murder revealed that it was a politically motivated crime, and several individuals were found to be involved in his killing.
This case remained a high-profile and controversial case for many years before leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for his murder. The victim’s family should have gotten justice on time but it seems no one cares about those who are gone.
The Gangsters Act, 1986
Afzal Ansari was convicted for the first time under the Gangsters Act for his alleged role in a BJP MLA’s murder. He received a four-year prison sentence and a Rs 1 lakh fine. whereas Mukhtar Ansari, a seasoned MLA, faced his fourth conviction since September 2022. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined Rs 5 lakh for his crimes under the same act.
The U.P. Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986, commonly known as the Gangsters Act, is a law in Uttar Pradesh, India. It was established to combat gangsters and anti-social activities. The Act defines a “gang” as a group involved in anti-social activities, disturbing public order, or gaining undue advantage. These activities can include crimes under the Indian Penal Code, or violations of the U.P. Excise Act, of 1910, or the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, of 1985. Introduced in 1986, the Act’s primary aim was to apprehend notorious criminals in the state and imprison them to curb organized crime and anti-social activities that disrupt the state’s peace.
Who are the Ansari brothers?
Afzal Ansari, once a Member of Parliament representing the Bahujan Samaj Party, and his brother Mukhtar Ansari, a former Member of the Legislative Assembly, were implicated in a case under the 2007 Gangsters Act. Afzal was sentenced to a four-year prison term and fined Rs 1 lakh. However, the Supreme Court has provisionally suspended his conviction, allowing him to attend parliamentary sessions but not to vote or enjoy any privileges. His appeal will be settled by the Allahabad High Court by June 30, 2024.
Mukhtar’s situation is different. He was handed a 10-year prison sentence. Since September 2022, he has been convicted in several cases, including a 2009 Gangsters Act case that resulted in a 10-year prison term. He also received a life sentence for a murder case that is now 32 years old. In total, Mukhtar faces 65 charges, including murder and attempted murder.
Some eyes are still bleeding and people are listening to the fake pleadings.
we came too far.
