'The clay says to the potter, 'Why do you knead me so? There will come a day when I shall knead you'... These words of Kabir Das resonate eerily with the life of gangster Mukhtar Ansari. There was a time when he had the entire state of Uttar Pradesh under his command. The administration, let alone the police, was practically at his beck and call. Such was his terror in Purvanchal that people trembled upon hearing his name. Whether in jail or outside, it made no difference to him; his dark empire always thrived. But as they say, time spares no one. With the shifting sands of time, the high-flying Mukhtar came crashing down.
No one can forget the horrifying scenes of the 2005 Mau riots, where Mukhtar, brandishing weapons, led a terrifying procession. The evidence of power was such that he could have anyone picked up or have them sleep with the fishes, quite literally. However, during his final days, the fear in him was palpable, his eyes stripped of sleep, constantly restless and longing to see his family. Beneath the high prison walls, his dreams were buried, and today his empire has crumbled, his family snagged in legal troubles.
There was a period when prison was a haven for Mukhtar Ansari. His comforts and luxurious lifestyle were maintained behind bars. His network spanned the jail administration and police force. He enjoyed political support, which muted any opposition. In 2005, before orchestrating the assassination of his rival, BJP legislator Krishnanand Rai, he was locked up in Uttar Pradesh's Fatehgarh Jail. Later, he was transferred to the Ghazipur Jail. It's said he was a connoisseur of fresh fish, a rarity in Ghazipur Jail.
Fishes in the Jail Pond: Ansari's Gourmet Escapades
Sick of the plain jail food, he went as far as to have a pond excavated within the prison to breed his favorite fish. Whenever the mood struck, he would feast on freshly caught fish from this personal reservoir. Rumor has it that his fish parties were attended by high-rank officials and politicians alike, celebrating within the jail walls. Brijlal, a former IG of UP Police, confirmed these events, stating, 'Ghazipur Jail was practically Mukhtar's home.' It was the venue for his customary evening courts and badminton matches with senior officers.
Punjab Police Splurge ₹5.5 Million on Ansari's Hospitality
No matter the ruling party in Uttar Pradesh, it was always Mukhtar Ansari and his gang who reigned supreme. But with the advent of Yogi Adityanath's government in 2017, his downfall began. Sensing the tide turning against him in UP, Mukhtar utilized his political network to flee to Punjab, where Punjab Police took him on transit remand in a case. He was detained in Ropar Jail, where he continued to be showered with luxuries. Between 2019 and 2021, the Punjab Police squandered ₹5.5 million on his 'facilities.'
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Source: aajtak
The Desperate Demise of Mukhtar
Uttar Pradesh Police, in their pursuit, eventually succeeded in extraditing Mukhtar from Punjab to Banda Jail. With this move came the reckoning of his crimes. Ansari had nearly 65 cases registered against him. In recent years, he has been sentenced in several cases, with more pending. In prison, he lived a life of desperation and helplessness. The don who once had a pond dug in jail to satiate his craving for fish was now longing for snacks like Kurkure and bananas, repeatedly citing his ailments in hopes of securing bail or a transfer to a more comfortable confinement in Lucknow.
My Lord, I'm gravely ill: Ansari's Courtroom Pleas
'My Lord, I am gravely ill. I am not receiving proper treatment. Please order my immediate medical care,' Mukhtar Ansari pleaded before the judge during one of his trials. Similarly, during the video conferencing at the Barabanki MP-MLA court, for a fake ambulance case, he appeared visibly distressed. His anxiety was noticeable as he kept sipping water upon eyeing his witness.
In Court, Ansari Begs for Kurkure and Bananas
In an earlier instance, tired of jail food, Ansari implored for his favorite delicacies in court. He pleaded before Judge Kamal Kant Shrivastav, expressing his weariness of the bland meals and requesting that his preferred food items be delivered to him, including fruits and Kurkure. His craving for fruit was granted, and by the next hearing, he received bananas and mangoes.
Also read: Unseen Pictures from a Gangster and Lady Don's Wedding: From Exchange of Garlands to the Final Vow
Source: aajtak
The Gangster with Freedom Fighter Grandfather and Brigadier Granduncle
Notably, Mukhtar Ansari was born in Mohammadabad, Ghazipur, on June 3, 1963, to Subhanullah Ansari and his wife Rabia Begum. Ansari's family had a strong political background in Ghazipur. His grandfather, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari, was a freedom fighter and served as the president of the Indian National Congress in 1926-27, working closely with Gandhi. His granduncle, Brigadier Mohammad Usman, was awarded the Mahavir Chakra posthumously for his valor in the battle of 1947. Subhanullah Ansari actively participated in politics with his clean image.
Born into an Esteemed Family Yet Choosing the Path of a Gangster
The former Vice President Hamid Ansari is related as his uncle. Despite such a noble lineage, he chose the path of crime. Mukhtar had his finger in many pies: construction, mining, scrap, liquor, and railway contracts. With these ventures, he built his empire. There are roughly 65 cases standing against the gangster Mukhtar Ansari. His charges span the entire spectrum of the penal code's gravest offences. However, some still regarded him as a Robin Hood figure.
