A Varanasi court on Monday sentenced former lawmaker Mukhtar Ansari to life imprisonment for the murder of Congress leader Awadhesh Rai that took place more than 32 years ago.
He was also fined Rs 1,00,000
Awadhesh Rai, the brother of Congress leader Ajay Rai, was shot dead on August 3, 1991, at the gate of his Lahurabir residence. A case in the matter was registered against Ansari and others.
“This is the end of our many years of waiting. I, my parents, Awadhesh’s daughter, and the whole family kept patience… Governments came and went and Mukhtar strengthened himself,” Ajay Rai said, reports Indian Express.
“But we did not give up. Because of our lawyers’ efforts, today the court has found Mukhtar guilty in the murder case of my brother,” he added.
This is Ansari’s sixth conviction in the 61 criminal cases against him. 20 other cases against him are pending trail in various parts of the state. He is lodged at Banda district jail, has been convicted.
Mukhtar Ansari won assembly elections five times – 1996, 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017. The last three victories came while he was in jail. His son Abbas Ansari won the Uttar Pradesh assembly election from his stronghold Mau Sadar in 2022 from the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP).
