Mukhtar Ansari’s family, his son and Mau Sadar MLA Abbas Ansari has been convicted in a high-profile hate speech case by the Mau MP/MLA court. The verdict comes over two years after Abbas openly threatened to “settle accounts” with administrative officials during the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections—a statement that had triggered widespread outrage and prompted swift legal action.
The court, which has been turned into a security fortress amid fears of unrest, found Abbas Ansari and his brother Umar Ansari guilty of criminal intimidation, promoting enmity, obstructing public servants, and criminal conspiracy. Sentencing is expected to be announced shortly.
The controversial remarks were made on March 3, 2022, during a public rally held in Mau amid the charged atmosphere of the state assembly elections. Abbas Ansari, while campaigning, declared that “no officer will be transferred after our government is formed—we’ll first settle our scores.” The inflammatory statement was perceived as a direct threat to bureaucrats and police personnel, aimed at instilling fear and influencing the electoral process.
A case (Crime No. 97/22) was registered under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 506 (criminal intimidation), 171C and 171F (undue influence during elections), 186 (obstructing public servant), 189 (threat of injury to public servant), 153A (promoting enmity between groups), and 120B (criminal conspiracy). The FIR was lodged at Kotwali police station based on the complaint of Sub-Inspector Gangaram Bind.
Following investigation, a charge sheet was filed against Abbas Ansari, his brother Umar Ansari, and election agent Mansoor Ansari of Ghazipur district. The court has now held them guilty on the basis of evidence and witness testimonies.
Given the politically sensitive nature of the case and the criminal background of the Ansari family, the court premises were heavily fortified, resembling a military cantonment. Additional police forces and rapid action teams have been deployed to maintain law and order during and after the sentencing.
Abbas Ansari, a sitting MLA from Mau Sadar, is the son of Mukhtar Ansari, a five-time MLA and convicted gangster who has been serving multiple sentences in various criminal cases. The family has long been accused of running a political-criminal syndicate in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, wielding significant influence over local politics, law enforcement, and public administration.
This conviction comes at a time when the Yogi Adityanath government has intensified its crackdown on mafia-politician networks in the state, demolishing illegal properties, seizing assets, and pushing for fast-track trials against high-profile offenders.
The conviction may jeopardize Abbas Ansari’s MLA status, pending the quantum of punishment. According to Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, an elected representative sentenced to two years or more in jail is disqualified from contesting elections for six years from the date of release.
