The death of gangster-turned-politician and former MLA Mukhtar Ansari in UP police custody created ripples in the political realm, particularly since he was the second political leader to die in custody despite registering a complaint about threats to his life, following Atiq Ahmad, who was shot dead point-blank along with his brother.
It has now been revealed that Ansari had registered a complaint of being poisoned through his food in jail, and actions on his complaint were found to have been discarded, despite calls from political leaders for a probe into the matter.
Incidents of custodial deaths under the Yogi government have been reported, with allegations that the deceased individuals were either political opponents or involved in gruesome criminal activities. Critics cited incidents such as the deaths of Munna Bajrangi, Sanjeev Maheshwari, Atiq Ahmad, and his brother Ashraf, who were also killed either in jail, court, or police custody.
The controversy erupted soon after Ansari died in Banda Jail, Uttar Pradesh, where he was serving time. Former MP and Congress leader Rajesh Ranjan, popularly known as Pappu Yadav, made a bold assertion, branding Ansari's demise as an 'institutional murder'.
He took to social media to express his views even before the Congress party issued any official statement on the matter. "Former MLA Mukhtar Ansari Ji's institutional murder. It is like burying law, constitution, and natural justice," Pappu Yadav remarked, setting off a flurry of reactions.
Ansari's son, Umar Ansari, reiterated allegations that his father was deliberately poisoned. Umar maintained that his father had been given poison in his food, leading to his deteriorating health. "We have previously mentioned, and today we reiterate, the allegation of administering slow poison," Umar stated. He emphasized their intention to approach the court, expressing confidence in the judicial system to uncover the truth.
Adding weight to the claims, BSP president Mayawati called for a high-level inquiry into Ansari's death, emphasizing the need to bring forth the true facts of the case. Similarly, Bhim Army founder and Aazad Samaj Party president Chandra Shekhar Aazad echoed the demand for a CBI investigation, citing Ansari's earlier apprehensions about his safety.
Samajwadi General Secretary Prof Ram Gopal Yadav also joined the chorus, advocating for a judicial probe into the circumstances surrounding Ansari's demise. He highlighted Ansari's prior warnings to the court about potential harm to his life, suggesting that these concerns had tragically materialized.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Surendra Rajput underscored the need for a comprehensive investigation into Ansari's death, raising questions about the BJP-led UP government's handling of the situation. Rajput drew attention to the broader context of deaths involving high-profile inmates like Ansari, pointing to a pattern of suspicious circumstances.
The allegations of foul play are intertwined with Ansari's own claims of being administered slow poison. Recent court proceedings revealed that Ansari had penned a plea expressing concerns about his health and alleging deliberate poisoning through his meals. In response, the court had directed the jail administration to provide medical treatment and ensure security arrangements for Ansari.
Despite these directives, Ansari's son faced obstacles when attempting to visit his father in the hospital. Umar Ansari recounted the ordeal of being denied access to his ailing father, accusing the police administration of unfair treatment. His frustration was palpable as he described travelling long distances only to be barred from meeting his father, even through a glass partition.