The Allahabad High Court on May 1, 2024, rejected Uttar Pradesh MLA Abbas Ansari's bail plea in the case over his illegal meetings with wife in Chitrakoot jail. The allegations also involved him conspiring to escape from the prison. The bench of Justice Jaspreet Singh passed the order. The bench said that alleged negligence or rule violations by jail authorities for Ansari and his wife may not have solely been for monetary gains."If such influence whether for monetary reason or under threat or coercion, can be exercised over police and prison authorities so effectively who are basically enforcers of law then it can be well imagined how the applicant can effectively garner power to influence any witness or to persuade him to change his stand", the bench asserted. Therefore, in view of the fact that the evidence is yet to commence and there are eye-witnesses and certain police authorities who are yet to be examined, the bench denied any relief to Ansari. Ansari is a sitting MLA from the Mau Assembly Seat. In the present case, he has been charged under Sections 387, 506, 201, 120-B, 195-A, 186, 511 and 34 of the I.P.C. and Section 8 of the P.C. Act, 1988, Sections 42 (b) and Section 54 of the Prisons Act and Section 7 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act.An FIR was registered on February 11, 2023, that Ansari's wife had been visiting him in Chitrakoot jail flouting all prison restrictions. She used to spend 3 to 4 hours inside the jail and allegedly, Ansari used to make calls from her phones to threaten various persons to extort money.It was also alleged that Ansari was provided all sorts of benefits during his incarceration for which the officials of the jail were paid both in cash and kind. Moreover, it was claimed that the driver of Ansari's wife namely Niyaz along with the officials of the jail was planning to stage an escape of Ansari from the prison.Upon surprise inspection by the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police, Ansari's wife was found in the room right adjacent to the room of the Jail Superintendent.Following the incident, Abbas Ansari was transferred from Chitrakoot prison to Kasganj district jail. Seven persons, including Nikhat Ansari, were arrested in connection with the case. Nikhat was granted bail by the Supreme Court on August 11, 2023.
TAGS: Allahabad High Court Abbas Ansari bail plea illegal meetings Chitrakoot jail
