Model Code Violation case: Supreme Court grants anticipatory bail to Mukhtar Ansari’s son, Umar Ansari

The Supreme Court today granted anticipatory bail to Umar Ansari, son of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari in a case where it was alleged that he along with other accused threatened the District Mau Administration and violated the model code of conduct during the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

Umar Ansari moved the Supreme Court against the decision of the Allahabad High Court which had denied granting anticipatory bail to him. Notably, the facts of the case are that an FIR was lodged against Abbas Ansari, Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party candidate from Mau Sadar seat, Umar Abbas Ansari (the present appellant), organizer Mansoor Ahmad Ansari and 150 unknown people. It is alleged that on March 3, 2022, the accused, including the appellant, threatened the District Mau Administration and violated the model code of conduct. The FIR was registered under Sections 171-F, 186, 189, 153-A, 120-B, and 506 of the Indian Penal Code(IPC).

Previously, on January 25, the Supreme Court granted ad-interim protection to Ansari from arrest. During the hearing today, Additional Advocate General Garima Prashad appearing for Uttar Pradesh protested against the grant of anticipatory bail to Ansari. The Additional Advocate General referred to the criminal antecedents of Ansari by mentioning that he along with other accused including a crowd of 150 unknown people threatened the District Administration of Mau and violated the model code of conduct being enforced during the State Assembly elections held in 2022.

Meanwhile, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for Ansari contended that the speech given during the election time, by the petitioner’s brother Abbas Ansari, has led to the registering of the case against the petitioner/Umar Ansari. He also pointed out that the person who made the speech and other co-accused have been granted regular bail.

Considering the submissions, the bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra was inclined to grant anticipatory bail to Ansari while noting that the charges framed against him are subject to the adjudication in the trial.

Furthermore, Ansari has been directed to cooperate with the investigation and appear before the investigative agencies as and when required. The court also directed that in the event of arrest, Ansari shall be released on bail after furnishing a bail bond of Rs. 20,000.