UP: Mafia don-turned-politician Ansari gets parole to campaign

A Delhi court today granted custody parole till February 9 to mafia don-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari for campaigning in coming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in which he is a candidate.

“The applicant is contesting the election from Mau constituency and Gosi constituency scheduled to be held on February 11. The applicant as stated is also the sitting MLA of Mau constituency,UP. Since the applicant has been found eligible to contest the election from Mau constituency and Gosi constituency,he is accordingly granted the custody parole from January 31 to February 9,” Additional Sessions Judge Savita Rao said.

The court,while directing proper security for Ansari during the campaigning,also directed him to bear all the expenses incurred for his security.

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“The applicant shall not misutilise this period of custody parole to threaten the witnesses of the case or try to tamper with the evidence,” the court said.

Ansari is lodged in Agra jail for his alleged role in the 2005 murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai.

He is facing trial along with alleged gangster Munna Bajrangi and his associates Miraz Ahmed and Iftikar Ahmad in a case under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act.