Mukhtar Ansari, who had been a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Mau for five terms, passed away on March 28 at Banda Hospital in Uttar Pradesh due to a heart attack. However, his family believes his death is a conspiracy.
Mukhtar Ansari’s son, Umar Ansari, claimed that his father was poisoned. Keeping these allegations in mind, the magistrate has ordered an investigation.
Mukhtar Ansari and his family history
Mukhtar was born on June 30, 1963, in Mohammadabad, Gazipur district. His family history is quite intriguing as his grandfather, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Ansari, was the President of the Indian National Congress for one year.
His maternal grandfather, Brigadier Usman, was also a prominent figure and was honored with the Mahavir Chakra. Even Mukhtar’s uncle, Hamid Ansari, served as the Vice President of India.
The interesting part is how someone from such a renowned family turned into a gangster. Mukhtar’s journey into crime began in 1988 when he was involved in a murder during a dispute over a market council contract. Later when he was first arrested by the police in 1991, he shot two police officers and went into hiding.
Up until now, Mukhtar has faced a total of 53 cases, including inciting riots, murder, extortion, kidnapping, and more. He was a notorious figure in Purvanchal, alongside another notorious figure, Brijesh Singh.
It’s said that Mukhtar and Brijesh were arch-enemies and constantly tried to outdo each other, whether it was controlling railway contracts or scrap and liquor businesses. When Mukhtar’s brother, Afzal, entered politics, Brijesh began supporting Krishnand Rai. Angered by this, Mukhtar had Krishnand Rai and his associates shot while still in jail.
Ansari’s Political Career
After this incident, Mukhtar began his political career. In 1996, he contested and won his first election as an MLA from BSP. Then, in 2002, he contested as an independent candidate and won. He later formed his party called Komi Ekta Dal, and after winning as an MLA twice, he joined BSP in 2017.
Ansari Under Arrest
Nobody could have imagined the extent of action against someone who was once so powerful. By 2024, almost everyone associated with the Mukhtar gang had either been jailed or killed in police encounters. Mukhtar Ansari’s wealth, which was estimated at around 500 crore rupees, has been seized.
