New Delhi: Jailed gangster turned politician Mukhtar Ansari has been held guilty by a Varanasi court in 32-year-old murder case. The mafia don was convicted by the MP-MLA court in 1991 Awadesh Rai murder case. The court will announce the quantum of punishment after 2 PM. The MP-MLA court had concluded the hearing of arguments on May 19 and reserved its order for June 5. Mafia turned politician Ansari was accused of murdering Congress leader Awadesh Rai on August 3, 1991. Latter was rained with bullets while he was standing outside his residence. Following this, his brother & MLA Ajay Rai had lodged a case against Mukhtar Ansari & 4 others. Mukhtar Ansari has been a five-term legislator and is currently serving a 10 year imprisonment in a kidnapping & murder case. He was awarded 10 year jail term by Ghazipur court in the Gangster Act case. The dreaded gangster went on to contest elections and also registered victory in 5 Assembly elections -- 1996, 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017. He won the last 3 elections while being in jail. His son Abbas Ansari is also a legislator from Mau Sadar, contesting polls on Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) ticket. Mukhtar Ansari became MLA for the first time in 1996. He contested the polls on BSP ticket. Though, his tenure in the party was short lived and was expelled by BSP supremo, years later. Ansari’s name has repeatedly cropped up in many gang wars in the state. He got prominence after kidnapping Rungta in 1997, one of biggest coal businessman of Purvanchal region.
