On Sunday, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav paid a visit to the Mohammadabad residence in Ghazipur district, where the family of the late gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari resides. During his visit, Yadav urged for a thorough investigation into Ansari’s demise while incarcerated, advocating for the involvement of a sitting Supreme Court judge to oversee the probe.

Mukhtar Ansari, a prominent figure who served as a five-time MLA from Mau and had been in detention since 2005, passed away on the night of March 28 at Banda prison. Although the post-mortem report conducted by a team of medical professionals at Banda Medical College attributed his death to a “heart attack/myocardial infarction,” Ansari’s family has alleged foul play, claiming he fell victim to a premeditated scheme.

Expressing his dismay over the tragic incident, Akhilesh Yadav highlighted Ansari’s own assertions of being subjected to poisoning while in custody. He emphasized the need for transparency and justice in the matter, particularly in light of dwindling trust in governmental institutions since the formation of the BJP-led government. Yadav pointed to instances of extreme measures taken by citizens to seek justice, including self-immolation protests and rising custodial deaths in Uttar Pradesh, questioning the government’s motives and approach.

During his interaction with the media at Mohammadabad, Yadav underscored the importance of impartial investigation, insisting that only a probe supervised by a sitting Supreme Court judge could ensure justice for Ansari and his family.

During his visit, Akhilesh Yadav met with Mukhtar Ansari’s elder brother Afzal, his son Umar, nephew Suhaib Ansari “Mannu,” and other relatives, extending his support and solidarity to the grieving family.

Responding to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s remarks regarding maintaining law and order, Yadav criticized the use of inflammatory language by a chief minister, stressing the significance of institutional integrity and fairness in governance. He accused the BJP government of exploiting such incidents for political gains, diverting attention from critical issues such as unemployment, inflation, and agricultural distress.

Highlighting the contributions of Mukhtar Ansari’s family to the nation, Yadav reflected on the shift in circumstances and the discrimination faced by the family, despite their continued philanthropic endeavors. He questioned the narrative surrounding Ansari’s demise, urging the public to scrutinize the government’s actions and consider the possibility of foul play. Drawing parallels to international incidents, Yadav emphasized the severity of the allegations against the government, calling for a thorough and unbiased investigation into Ansari’s untimely death.