Ghazipur: Gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari Mukhtar Ansari, who is lodged in Banda jail, has been sentenced to 10 years in kidnapping, murder case of Bharatiya Janata MLA Krishnanand Rai. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on him.
Ansari attended the hearing through video conferencing from Banda jail.
The court reserved its verdict on Mukhtar Ansari’s elder brother and BSP MP Afzal Ansari, who is also an accused in this case.
On September 23, 2022, prima facie charges were framed against MPs Afzal Ansari and Mukhtar Ansari in the court. The arguments were concluded after the prosecution completed its testimony. In view of the verdict, the police and administration have made strict security arrangements.
The court had fixed April 15 as the date for the verdict, but the verdict could not be taken as the presiding officer was on leave. The verdict will be pronounced on April 29.
In the gangster case, there is a provision of punishment ranging from two years to 10 years and fine.
If Afzal Ansari is convicted in the gangster case, his parliament status will be elapsed. In any case, the membership of an MLA or MP ends if the sentence is more than two years. Rahul Gandhi also recently lost his parliamentary status after facing a two years imprisonment.