Allahabad HC overturns Abbas Ansari’s conviction, reinstates assembly membership
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The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday quashed the conviction of Mau Sadar MLA Abbas Ansari in connection with a controversial speech made during the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, effectively restoring his membership in the legislative assembly.
Justice Samir Jain set aside the May 2023 order of a special MP/MLA court in Mau that had sentenced the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party leader to two years’ rigorous imprisonment.
Ansari had been convicted under Sections 153-A (promoting enmity between groups), 189 (threat to public servant), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 171F (undue influence during elections) of the Indian Penal Code. The trial court had also imposed a fine of ₹2,000.
Following the verdict, the MLA had first appealed to the appellate court, which dismissed his plea on July 5, 2023. He later moved to the Allahabad High Court, which granted him relief by setting aside the conviction.
The case stemmed from remarks Ansari made during a 2022 election rally, where he was accused of intimidating government officials. “I have told Akhilesh bhaiya (former CM Akhilesh Yadav) that after the formation of the government, there will be no transfer or postings of bureaucrats for six months. First, there will be hisab-kitab (scores to be settled), only then will transfer take place,” he was reported to have said.
Despite the controversy, Ansari went on to secure a decisive victory from the Mau constituency in the 2022 assembly polls, defeating his nearest rival by over 38,000 votes.