From strongman to politician, from legislator to mafia, the tales of criminals cloaked in respectability are widely known. These figures once commanded such fear that they could manipulate governments, police forces, and bureaucracies to their will. Among such infamous names is Mukhtar Ansari, now living a decrepit life behind bars.
Ansari faces charges in roughly 65 cases, all of which are considered serious under the Indian Penal Code. These range from murder to attempted murder, kidnapping, fraud, and violations of the Gangster Act, among others. As these cases conclude, he receives his sentences one by one, the latest being a life sentence related to a fake arms license fraud.
Mukhtar Ansari applied for a shotgun license on June 10, 1987, using fake signatures from district authorities. This deceit was exposed, and on December 4, 1990, a case was registered. An indictment was filed in 1997 after investigation. However, with the death of the co-accused, the case against them was closed on August 18, 2021.
Interestingly, Ansari has now been sentenced to life for a fake shotgun license dated back 36 years. Yet, in another notorious case that caused widespread alarm, all charges against him were dismissed. At the time, officials from the force that tried to hold him accountable were coerced into resigning. The government was almost reshaped to accommodate one man's mafia influence.
Let's reflect on Ansari's story and the former DSP Shailendra Singh, around the year 2004. Former DSP Singh, an STF chief in Varanasi, was tasked with monitoring the gang rivalry between Ansari and BJP leader Krishnanand Rai. Rai, who had won against Ansari, was on his hit list. Ansari was overheard discussing the purchase of an LMG (Light Machine Gun) to take out Rai, who was protected by a bulletproof vehicle.
When police investigated, they learned Ansari was negotiating with an AWOL army man for an LMG, with the deal set at one crore rupees. The news troubled authorities, who knew they had to recover the LMG before it reached Ansari. Eventually, in a high-stakes operation, police managed to seize the dangerous weapon.
The interception of this planned crime bolstered the police unit, but Ansari wielded great influence — enough to dissolve the case against him. Senior officials were transferred overnight, and the DSP who registered the case faced extreme pressure to retract it. Ultimately, DSP Singh resigned under duress, followed by years of targeted harassment and fabricated cases against him. However, with the change in government, all cases against Singh were eventually dropped.
Source: aajtak
Mukhtar Ansari's downfall sends a strong message against the confluence of crime and politics and serves as a reminder that justice may take time but can catch up to even the most feared criminals.
