The sentencing of Afzal, a two-time MP and six-time former MLA, paves the way for his automatic disqualification from the Lok Sabha. He represents Ghazipur in Parliament.
The Ansari brothers were booked in separate cases under the UP Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986 in pursuance of investigations into the 2005 sensational murder of then BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai in which both were accused.
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Later, the kidnapping and murder of businessman Nandkishore Rungta was added to Mukhtar’s case. A total of 10 prosecution witnesses had deposed before the court in the two cases. Government counsel (Ghazipur) Neeraj Srivastava confirmed the convictions and quanta of sentences.
Afzal was present in court when the verdict was pronounced and was taken into custody. He was then taken to the district jail under heavy security. Mukhtar, already serving a term in Banda jail in another case, attended the proceedings via video link.
This was five-time MLA Mukhtar’s fourth conviction since September 2022 while Afzal has been sentenced for the first time. Both brothers were named among 13 accused in the Krishnanad Rai murder case. A Delhi CBI court, however, acquitted them in 2019 after key witnesses turned hostile. The Rai murder case is now being heard by the Delhi high court.
Family members and supporters of Krishnanand Rai welcomed the court verdict. “I believe in the judiciary. The rule of goondas and mafia has ended (in the state),” said Alka Rai, Krishnanand’s widow, after the verdict.
Cases against listed dons under lens across UP: DGP
Elaborate security arrangements were made by the Ghazipur district administration in view of the court verdict. Ghazipur DM Alka Akhoury and district police chief Omvir Singh were present in court to supervise security arrangements when the verdict was pronounced.
A senior police officer said that soon after the killing of Rai in 2005, a fresh gang chart of Mukhtar was prepared. “This chart included the names of his associates who had come under the police scanner in connection with the kidnapping and murder of coal tycoon and Vishwa Hindu Parishad office-bearer Nandkishore Rungta in 1996. The names of associates who allegedly helped him in the murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai in 2005 were also included in this chart. On the basis of this documentation and other details that had emerged then, a case (No. 1051) under the Gangsters Act was registered against Mukhtar.
“Another case under the Gangsters Act (No. 1052) was registered against Afazal Ansari as he, too, was seen as being allegedly involved in the conspiracy related to the murder of Krishnanand Rai,” the officer said.
UP Special DGP (law and order) Prashant Kumar said consistent efforts are being made for perusal of cases against listed dons across the state and the Ghazipur court verdict was a part of these efforts. “Mukhtar was already convicted in three cases in the past one year and this is the fourth one.This happens to be the first case in which Afzal has ever been convicted,” said Kumar.
On September 21 last year, the Allahabad HC had sentenced Mukhtar to seven years’ imprisonment in a 2003 case of assault on a jailer. A day later, the HC, in another case, sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment in a case under the Gangsters Act in Lucknow in 1999. On December 15 last year, a court in Ghazipur district convicted Ansari under the Gangsters Act and sentenced him to 10 years in jail along with his associate, Bheem Singh.
