NEW DELHI: Expressing apprehensions that her husband may be killed in custody, wife of BSP MLA Mukhtar Ansari moved the Supreme Court seeking directions to the Uttar Pradesh police and jail authorities to protect his life and ensure that the politician gets a free and fair trial in various criminal cases pending against him.
In her petition, Afsan Ansari alleged that her husband was attacked earlier as well and there is all likelihood that he will again be targeted after he is shifted from Punjab to Uttar Pradesh jail. She also pointed out various incidents in the past when attempts were allegedly made to eliminate her husband. She alleged that her husband is a witness in several cases in which members of the present ruling party are accused and “grave pressure is being exerted to have him killed”.
The Supreme Court had on March 26 directed transfer of the politician from Punjab to Uttar Pradesh to face trial in multiple cases pending in the state after noting that Punjab refused to hand over Ansari’s custody 26 times on trivial medical grounds.
The court had observed that it cannot be a “helpless bystander” when the rule of law is being challenged with impunity.
The court allowed the plea of the Uttar Pradesh government which was forced to approach the Supreme Court after its attempt to get Ansari back to the state failed as Punjab refused to hand him over. The court had directed that the politician’s custody be handed over Uttar Pradesh within two weeks and he be shifted to district jail, Banda in Uttar Pradesh.