Court asks UP jail official to explain failure to produce MLA

A Delhi court today directed a senior Uttar Pradesh jail official to appear before it to explain the failure of authorities in producing Independent MLA Mukhtar Ansari before it in connection with a MCOCA case.

Additional sessions judge Madhu Jain took a serious view of the failure of the Uttar Pradesh prison authorities to produce Ansari, MLA from Mau who is now in Ghazipur jail in connection with the murder BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai in 2005.

The court has also expressed its displeasure over the failure of authorities to produce proper medical records from the district hospital there regarding the treatment being provided to the state legislator.

"Perusal of the records show that he (Ansari) is getting treatment at Ghazipur jail. He is reported to be suffering from abdomen pain and loose motion, which does not seem to be such a serious ailment...It seems that he does not have respect for the order of the court..." Jain said.

A jail official, however, appeared in the court following a fresh production warrant issued against him on November 16 to inform that the accused MLA was indisposed.

The court sought presence of DIG (prison) on November 26 to explain the reasons of their inability to produce Ansari, who had unsuccessfully contested last Lok Sabha elections on a BSP ticket from Varanasi seat against BJP leader M M Joshi.

Delhi Police invoked the MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) against inter-state gangster Munnai Bajrangi and Ansari for running organised crime syndicate here.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police, which pleaded for the court's permission to arrest the accused from Ghazipur district prison, were strongly opposed by Ansari's counsel Deepak Sharma who submitted that he (Ansari) was not well and being treated for gastro-related problems.

Ansari is wanted in a MCOCA case for being associated with Bajrangi to run the organised crime syndicate. Bajrangi, whose real name is Prem Prakash Singh, was arrested from Mumbai by a joint team of the Delhi Police and Uttar Pradesh Police on October 29.

The police invoked charges against Bajrangi, who hails from Jaunpur district in Uttar Pradesh, under MCOCA for allegedly running a crime syndicate and took him into their custodial from the court till December seven. According to the police, Bajrangi is allegedly involved in more than 10 murder cases across the country.