AMN
The Delhi High Court today set aside the trial court order granting custody parole to MLA Mukhtar Ansari for canvassing in the UP Assembly polls. Justice Mukta Gupta allowed the Election Commission’s plea seeking cancellation of Ansari’s parole. The court said the petition (poll panel plea) is allowed. Ansari, an MLA who recently joined the Bahujan Samaj Party to contest from Mau Assembly seat in UP, was given custody parole till March 4, enabling him to campaign in the election.
The high court, however, on February 17 had stayedits operation after the poll panel moved a plea seeking cancellation of his parole on the ground that he may influence witnesses in the 2005 murder case of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai, in which he is facing trial.
Later the Uttar Pradesh government, the prosecuting agency and the complainant in the BJP MLA’s case also moved the high court opposing Ansari’s release from jail in Lucknow. The trial court had on February 16 granted him custody parole. Ansari has over 40 criminal cases against him, including that of murder and kidnapping.